The Effect on Mohair Production

1. Nutrition

NUTRITION- The Effect on Mohair Production

The effect of additional nutrition is demonstrated in trials (Badenhorst, Diedericks and Schlebusch)  to investigated the effect of the level of nutrition on the most important quality traits of mohair.

Angora kids were divided into two groups..

• HIGH level of Nutrition  received a pelleted ration consisting of 10 % mealies, 10 %t molasses and 80 % lucerne,
• LOW level of Nutrition had 70% lucerne + 30% milled wheat straw.

Some of the more important results in the table below:

With the exception of style and evenness of fleece, nutrition appears to have a substantial effect on all the important quantitative and qualitative characteristics of mohair production. The selection of breeding animals based on these qualities can therefore be effective only if all the animals receive the same nutritional treatment. When such animals are subjected to nutritional stress, this "quality trait" may largely disappear.

Dr Mackie Hobson