Research
and Development Projects...
For the latest research and development projects funded
through the Rural Industries Research and Development
Corporation (RIRDC) go to their website.
A
guide to drought feeding of goats
Drought feeding should be started well
before the goats reach their critical live weight. The
concept of critical live weight indicates the minimum
live weight that will enable an animal to survive. Further
weight loss may endanger the survival of the goats by
leaving them too weak to walk, graze or safely obtain
drinking water. The critical live weight is also used
when determining feeding level and for long term budgeting
and purchasing of feed . click
here for report
Extent
of short and cotted mohair
Mohair fibre length has important effects
on the processing and quality of textiles. Historic
data from South African and Australian mohair markets
indicate that the price difference between short and
long mohair can be 20 to 80%. It is in the interests
of mohair producers, selling brokers and processors
to maximise the financial returns from mohair production
Click
here for report summary or to download full report.
EGT
Classing Update
The EGT work is now half way through the
planned two year project which is aimed at increasing
the efficiency of classing, providing real benefits
from isolating superior mohair for sale, and testing
the attitudes of buyers to this method of classing and
marketing of mohair.
It is hoped to expand the trial to include second shearing
kid fleeces produced in spring, and which will be sold
at NMP's November sale.
Some 7 preliminary papers have been produced so far
and are available from the Principal Investigator (Doug
Stapleton, dstaplet@netwit.net.au)
The latest reports are provided by clicking the following
links:
EGT
5 - A comparison between EGT and traditional classing
EGT
6 -Re-testing of renegade fleeces under EGT classing
EGT
7 - Skirting of mohair fleeces
EGT–
8. Mid side v’s Whole Fleece Tests
EGT–
9. Results of EGT Classing for the 05-2 and 06-1 Clips
(July 2006)
This project has now been completed and a Summary can
be viewed by clicking here. EGT
Project Summary In brief Dr Stapleton has stated
" The EGT mohair sold for an average of $19.62
as opposed to $17.80/kg. Visual classing failed to accurately
reflect fibre diameter within younger age groups and
age effects remained following visual classing. Mid
side fibre diameter appeared to underestimate fleece
diameter by between 0.5 and 2 microns with differences
being greater at the low end of the range. Buyers pointed
to small lot size and a concern about losing EGT fibre
to direct sales overseas as important issues. Discounts
were observed when brokers’ lines failed to meet
micron specification." A full report can be viewed
on the RIRDC
website.
Other Projects
and reports...
From time to time projects and case studies
are undertaken within the Mohair producing community
by researchers and producers. We have only mentioned
a few. you can contact us for more information
Extent
of Short and Cotted Mohair
RIRDC funded report by Dr Bruce McGregor. Click
Here
Sire
Evaluation Report
RIRDC funded report by Dr Bruce McGregor. Click
Here
Observations
on Kidding in Angora Goats from 1988 to 2003
Observations of births over an extended
period of goats on his property at Cudal by Dr Doug
Stapleton. Click
here.
Using
Measurements in Mohair Production
Using measurements to evaluate performance over time
by Dr Doug Stapleton. Click
Here
|
