Winder Angoras and Alpacas is run by Reg and Gill Scott at The Oaks between Camden and Picton, New South Wales. Breeding and showing of the animals began back in 2004 and has continued for almost 2 decades.
Angora goats are predominantly bred for the production of quality mohair. Since the commencement of breeding, numerous amounts of goats have been bred to produce good yields of fine mohair. Home bred stock are now competitive at local and national shows including the National Angora Trophy Show (NATS) and The Sydney Royal Easter Show. Over the many years of showing, we have produced many champion and prize winning goats.
Pictured is Winder Cameo, one of our most successful does. In 2009, she was awarded Supreme Champion at, and not limited to, Goulburn and Camden Show, won her class at Campbelltown Show, and was awarded the title of NSW Eastern Region "Doe of the Year".
2010 and 2011 was also a successful year for Winder Cameo with her winning champion in all her Doe classes at Albion Park, Berry, Campbelltown, Camden and Goulburn Shows and was again awarded Champion Doe at Goulburn. She went on to be named NSW Eastern Region "Doe of the Year" for the second year and third year consecutively.
All involved were all very proud of Winder Cameo and the effort that was put into her preparation. She continued to show, and went on to nurture a number of kids who were successful at their own respective shows.
Since 2009 we have entered bucks in the NSW Buck Trial at Cudal. In 2010, two of our bucks were ranked numbers 2 and 4 out of 39 on the Australian Buck Trial Index (ABTI).
In 2012 we had Bucks ranked first and seventh on the ABTI and purchased what we believe was the best buck (Koorana Falcon) on the Trial. There was no Trial in 2013 and in 2014 our animals ranked first, third and fourth on the ABTI and produced the two highest value fleeces at $64 and $60.
In the final Trial which concluded February 2015 our animals were seventh and eighth on the Index but we still had three of the four finest fleeces with a highest value of $93.50 and low kemp scores. This increase in value reflects the increase in mohair prices.
Even after the discontinuation of the ABTI, Winder Angora breed high quality stock each year and a number of animals are available for sale.
Very fine and longer fleeces are retained for sale to spinners and craft businesses. Some of these are washed and available in 200 gm packs and can be posted at cost. Please contact us in regards to sales.
Mohair
Mohair is a wool-like textile fibre, produced as a simple fleece on Angora goats. It grows in curly locks, is soft to the touch, smooth and lustrous. The fabric is warm and lightweight. Kid mohair (less than 25 microns) is used in knitwear and can be worn next to the skin.
Our breeding stock have a mohair diameter of less than 30 microns and our national mohair sales consistently achieve a $2 per kilo premium. Animals are shorn twice per year, being in February and August, and produce between 1 and 5 kg of mohair depending on age and timing. The first sheared kid fleeces are smaller (1 - 1.5 kg) and finer (average under 20 microns), whilst adult goats have longer and heavier fleeces after 8 months growth.
In 2014 at the National Angora Trophy Show fine kid fleece won its class and was Reserve Champion fleece. This year (2015) we had the 2nd placed kid fleece behind the Champion. We also had Champion fleece at Picton, Albion Park and Goulburn Shows but did not attend Berry Show.
2017 and 2018 were years of drought both weather wise and with the shows. However, we had 300 mls of rain in the last 3 months of 2018 which more than doubled our annual total (560 mls) which compares with our average rainfall of 850 mls per year.
2019 started well for us with rain in January and March, but still only 480 mls for the year.
This was probably our best show year ever.
At Albion Park Show in January we had Champion Buck (275) and Champion Doe (278) with the Buck Supreme.
At Berry Show the buck again won his class and was Supreme and 277 was Reserve Champion Doe.
At Goulburn Show Champion Buck was 275 and to finish the season at Camden Show 275 was Champion Buck and 278 Champion Doe and Supreme.
Our buck (275) became Eastern Region Angora of the year.
From the end of May we were feeding full rations to the animals buying hay at $27 for a small bale. Pastures were brown and dead, the dam empty and we were buying water
The mohair fleeces at Picton Show in October were judged by Jim Stanley ex Australian Mohair Marketing Organisation and we had a clean sweep with 4 exhibitors competing.
November saw the start of the disastrous fires which came within 6 kms of us on two occasions in December - very disconcerting.
The 2020 Albion Park and Berry Shows were cancelled
Mid February the rains arrived (over 200 mls in 1 day). The dam and tanks overflowed and everything turned green again - quite amazing.
At the end of February we did Bathurst Diamond Fibre Show and were delighted to have Champion Kid, Reserve Buck and Reserve Fleece among strong competition.
Goulburn Show was early March where we again had Reserve Champion Buck, Kid and Fleece
We only exhibit fleeces at the National Show in Goulburn where we achieved 3rd place in the First Shear class.
At that event, we were informed that all events would be cancelled because of COVID 19 virus and we went into shutdown.
We have now shorn all our goats and classed fleece for sale and set up breeding groups.
Currently (April) we have 8 does surplus to requirements and last year's show fleeces ready for sale including the fine kid which did well in the shows.
Visitors are welcome by appointment. Please contact: Reg and Gill Scott, The Oaks, NSW 2570