Our_Producers
Our Producers
Our Producers (our members) are at the heart of British Mohair Marketing and we exist as an organisation because of them and to serve and support them. We offer marketing support and initiatives to generate more demand for their Mohair, collection and consolidation services to gather their mohair in sufficient volume to meet the needs of our wholesale processing partners and technical and educational infoirmation including academic research and news and initiatives from other Mohair producers around the world.
British Mohair Marketing is a community of individuals (and selected organisations) with a shared passion for Angora Goats and the mohair they produce. Meet them below and read their personal journeys. If you would like to join us then contact us at admin@british-mohair.org, checkout our facebook page or reach out to the British Angora Goat Society (the official breed society for Angora Goats in the UK) to find out more about Angora Goats.
Marchgwyn Angoras - Carmarthenshire, Wales
When we first moved to Wales in 2012 we started with a few sheep, but it rapidly became clear that they were costing more to shear than the wool was worth. A few years later we saw our first Angoras at Cardigan show and were immediately smitten. A few month later the firtst does arrived from a local breeder but things rapidly got out of handand we soon started reducing the sheep numbers to make more space for the Angoras. Our first buck arrived, followed by another then then more does, and then another buck! We now have 54 on site and have more than 30 new kids arriving as we speak.
With a scientific and business background it was natural to try to understand more about these gfantastic animals and how we might produce better mohair. It also became apparent that the genetic diversity in the UK was quite low and we now maintain five separate bloodlines (and 16 bucks!) to give us more options. As they say in business “you cannot manage what you don’t measure”, so we now maintain detailed breeding records, weight gain helath status and test ther fleeces of every animal every year to help us choose the best animals to breed to deliver the highest quality mohair. We even planted new hedges which we cut back regularly and the goats devour with relish.
For us the mohair is the product and the goats are the (self replicating) workforce! In today’s world producing such a valuable and luxurious product that is locally sourced from animals that are ethically raised in a responsible and sustainable manner with a low impact on the environment just seems the right thing to do.
Mizpah Angoras - Bedfordshire, England
I retired from my veterinary practice in 23018 and fulfilled my dream of moving to a smallholding in Bedfordshire. Angora goats soon followed and progressed from a hobby with four goats to my current herd of twenty. I am passionate about breeding, showing and of course mohair production. In common with many other UK Angora owners my flock is comparatively small compared with some of those abroad and I pride myself on being able to provide them individual attention. I look forward to seeig the mohair that my goats produce being transformed into beautiful yarns and products under a British label.