Just to clarify... Angora fibre comes from the Angora rabbit; the fibre harvested from the Angora goat is known as mohair. Angora is much softer, lighter and warmer than either mohair or sheep's wool. This is all thanks, in the main, to the hollow core of every individual fibre which also gives the wool its characteristic "halo" effect as the ends of fibres float and move about the spun yarn. Despite needing space for that hollow core, a single angora fibre is only about 15 microns or less. Their coat also contains guard hairs that are longer and twice that diameter.
Today there are five types of Angora rabbit. English are the smallest and easily recognised by the wool on their faces and the tips of their ears. They will produce between and 250 and 450 gms of wool annually. Slightly larger are another old breed, French angora, with clean (short, sleek fur) faces and ears. They produce a slightly coarser wool that is easier to keep tangle free. Satin angora have a sleeker coat with a satin like appearance. German angora are a more recently developed breed which are again easier to keep groomed, and. Giant angora, which as the name suggests, are very much larger than the other breeds, and produce far more wool. They also produce a larger crop of wool in proportion to the amount of food that they eat, so can provide the highest profit.
The rabbits kept by myself are English. Like most small producers I keep a low enough number to be able to allow them access to outdoor runs as well as large under cover housing. They are scissor- clipped and their wool blended with sheep's.
The wool is harvested three to four times a year. It may be clipped or plucked. If plucked, the hair is combed or gently tugged so that the fibres which are ready to moult naturally are the only ones removed. It must be emphasised that the process is a natural one occurring when the fur reaches a certain length, which should be helped, not forced, by the handler. When moulting begins there is a danger of the rabbits suffering from fur balls as the loose fur will irritate and cause them to groom themselves and swallow it.
90% or more of the Angora fibre produced today comes from China. Unfortunately video footage filmed of the rabbits being tied and plucked leaving raw skin have resulted in bad press for angora farmers everywhere, and several large retailers have refused to stock garments made from the wool.
Elsewhere the rabbits are farmed in a far less intensive way. This makes the wool somewhat more expensive, but the system is very much kinder to the rabbits. In the UK and other countries angora tend to be bred and kept by enthusiasts, many of whom spin the wool themselves or run a small business.
It is also worth remembering that smaller breeders and farmers are looking for quality rather than quantity. To obtain the best wool they will need to keep their rabbits healthy and happy. And anyone who has ever groomed a rabbit will know that gentleness is needed if the activity is not to become an ordeal to both rabbit and handler. The majority of "woolly wabbits" outside of factory farming enjoy the attention.
Please note that however appealing these fluffy bunnies might look, they need to be groomed at least twice weekly,,, and more as the coat grows. They will also need clipping with scissors four times a year, whether you use the wool or not. They are therefore rarely a good choice as a child's pet.