JUNOS Cookbook By Aviva Garrett
April 2006
Pages: 682

Cover | Table of Contents | Colophon

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Colophon

The animal appearing on the cover of Junos Cookbook is the Angora goat (Capra
aegagrus hircus), which is bred primarily for its fleece, called mohair. Angoras generally produce between 8 and 12 pounds of skirted (stains removed) fiber per year. Most Angoras are white since their mohair is easy to dye, but they also come in different shades. Black Angoras range in color from deep solid black to light gray or silver. Reds, often called "faded reds" because of the tendency of their coats to fade as the goat ages, range in color from apricot to copper.

Angora goats are browsers, meaning they thrive best where there is a good cover of brush, weeds, and grass. They like dry, mild climates but can do very well in the
cold. Angora fleece grows about one inch per month, so within two or three months
of shearing, these goats have fleece of sufficient length to withstand subzero temperatures. In the weeks after shearing, however, they must be protected from the elements, especially cold rain.

These goats are believed to have originated in the Himalaya Mountains before
making their way to Ankara, Turkey, where they were first bred (and after which
they were named). In 1848, seven female and two male Angoras were brought to the United States. Now the U.S. is the second largest mohair-producing nation in the world, with a Texas herd of 1,800,000 goats. The pure breed characteristics of the Angora goat, including its gently curved horns, loose-hanging ears, and short, high tail have been well preserved in the U.S. due to strict maintenance of breeding
registries.

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