Angora rabbits

A potentialnew industry for Australia

A report for theRural IndustriesResearch and DevelopmentCorporation

by A. C. Schlink and S.M. LiuCSIRO Livestock Industries

April 2003RIRDC Publication No 03/014RIRDC Project No CSA-19A

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Angora Rabbits – A potential new industry for Australia

Publication No. 03/014Project No. CSA-19A

The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and notnecessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to anyperson 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 theCorporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact thePublications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186.

Researcher Contact Details

Anthony Charles SchlinkCSIRO Livestock IndustriesPrivate Bag 5Wembley WA 6913Phone: (08) 9333 6628Fax: (08) 9387 8991Email: tony.schlink@csiro.auIn submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form.

RIRDC Contact Details

Rural Industries Research and Development CorporationLevel 1, AMA House42 Macquarie StreetBARTON ACT 2600PO Box 4776KINGSTON ACT 2604Phone: 02 6272 4539Fax: 02 6272 5877Email: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au.Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.auPublished in April 2003Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint

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Foreword

Australia has a long established reputation for the production of natural fibres, from bothanimal and plant sources. Until the 1930’s Australia had a small Angora rabbit fibre industryand although this industry disappeared from Australia, it has continued in Europe, Asia andSouth America. Angora fibre is the third largest animal fibre industry by weight after wool andmohair.This study assesses the potential for the re-establishment of an Angora rabbit fibre industry inAustralia. The report is based on a study of the industries in France and China, and recentAustralian experiences. This study also draws on published sources of information from theAngora industry and related fibre industries.The gradual changing of State legislation to allow rabbit farming since the 1980s offered theopportunity 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 lowinternational market prices for raw Angora fibre on this “new” industry for Australia arehighlighted. 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 acontinuation of this trend. The Angora industry offers some potential for development inAustralia but careful consideration needs to be made about the means of disposal of theresultant fibre onto a depressed international market for Angora fibre. The potential industryneeds 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 FederalGovernment.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 thedevelopment of viable new animal industries.Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online throughour website:

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Simon Hearn

Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation