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Angora Rabbits Angora rabbits A potential new industry for Australia A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by A. C. Schlink and S.M. Liu CSIRO Livestock Industries April 2003 RIRDC Publication No 03/014 RIRDC Project No CSA-19A © 2003 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0642 58582 2 ISSN 1440-6845 Angora Rabbits – A potential new industry for Australia Publication No. 03/014 Project No. CSA-19A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Anthony Charles Schlink CSIRO Livestock Industries Private Bag 5 Wembley WA 6913 Phone: (08) 9333 6628 Fax: (08) 9387 8991 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in April 2003 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword Australia has a long established reputation for the production of natural fibres, from both animal and plant sources. Until the 1930’s Australia had a small Angora rabbit fibre industry and although this industry disappeared from Australia, it has continued in Europe, Asia and South America. Angora fibre is the third largest animal fibre industry by weight after wool and mohair. This study assesses the potential for the re-establishment of an Angora rabbit fibre industry in Australia. The report is based on a study of the industries in France and China, and recent Australian experiences. This study also draws on published sources of information from the Angora industry and related fibre industries. The gradual changing of State legislation to allow rabbit farming since the 1980s offered the opportunity for Australia to re-enter the Angora fibre production and marketing industries. The potential for this “new” industry is discussed and the likely constraints of the current low international market prices for raw Angora fibre on this “new” industry for Australia are highlighted. Australia in recent history has entered the animal fibre industries of mohair, cashmere and alpaca. Thus the potential development of an Angora industry in Australia is a continuation of this trend. The Angora industry offers some potential for development in Australia but careful consideration needs to be made about the means of disposal of the resultant fibre onto a depressed international market for Angora fibre. The potential industry needs to draw on the experiences of the other “new” animal fibre industries in Australia. This project was funded from RIRDC Core Funds which are provided by the Federal Government. This report, a new addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 900 research publications, forms part of our rare natural (animal) fibres R&D program, which aims to accelerate the development of viable new animal industries. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Index.htm purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Simon Hearn Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgements This report is based on a knowledge gained of the Angora fibre industries of France, Germany and China. The author would like to sincerely acknowledge the time and expert information generously provided by Dr. Daniel Allain, INRA, Toulouse, France, Dr. Peter Artzt, ITV, Denkendorf, Germany and Director Gao Bailu, Xingchang Wool-Rabbit Research Institute, Zhejiang Province, China. The senior author would also like to express a deep gratitude of thanks to Dr. S.M. Liu, CSIRO Livestock Industries who organised, and acted as translator and impetrator for the study of the Chinese Angora rabbit industry. The author also thanks the Australian participants, past and present, in the Angora fibre industry and the many Angora rabbit fanciers who provided enthusiasm and encouragement for this project. iv Abbreviations AUD Australian dollars. v Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ iv Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................... v Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. viii 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 2. The Angora Rabbit Industry................................................................................................................ 2 2.1 History.............................................................................................................................. 2 3. World Angora Fibre Market................................................................................................................ 3 3.1 Australian Market............................................................................................................. 6 3.2 Current Market Situation.................................................................................................. 7 3.3 Angora Fibre and its Uses ................................................................................................ 7 4. Angora Production and Management Issues ....................................................................................... 9 4.1 Housing ............................................................................................................................ 9 4.2 Nutritional Requirements ............................................................................................... 11 4.3 Livestock Sources and Breeding.................................................................................... 13 4.4 Shearing and Fleece Handling ....................................................................................... 14 4.5 Diseases of Angora Rabbits ........................................................................................... 15 5. Potential for Angora fibre production in Australia............................................................................ 16 5.1 Strengths......................................................................................................................... 16 5.2 Opportunities.................................................................................................................. 16 5.3 Weaknesses .................................................................................................................... 17 5.4 Constraints...................................................................................................................... 18 5.5 Labour and Estimated Costing ....................................................................................... 19 6. Conclusions and Recommendations.................................................................................................. 20 6.1 Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 20 6.2 Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 20 6.2.2 Location of Research............................................................................................... 20 6.2.3 Technical Information............................................................................................. 20 6.2.4 Housing ................................................................................................................... 21 6.2.5 Disease Control ....................................................................................................... 21 6.2.6 Cost Effective Fibre Harvesting.............................................................................. 21 6.2.7 Fibre Processing ...................................................................................................... 21 7. References ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Appendix A ........................................................................................................................................... 24 vi List of Tables and Figures Table 1. World production of animal fibres (from Leader et al 1998) Table 2. Effect of season on harvested Angora wool where 100 = 157g (adapted from de Rochambeau and Thebault 1990) Table 3. Nutritional requirements of adult Angora rabbits
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