French Angora Breed Profile...
The French Angora has a long history as a functional rabbit with a history of being raised commercially in Europe. Originally developed as a dual purpose rabbit meaning for wool and meat, today the meat feature is less prized among those that keep these rabbits not only for fiber but also for showing. As a four class breed shown grouped by age of junior and senior and sex as buck or doe, the French Angora is shown as white or colored and available as agouti, broken, pointed white, self, shaded, steel, and wide band varieties. They are a medium sized breed with a range accepted of 7.5 to 10.5 pounds.
The wool of the French angora is somewhat coarser than other breeds and ideally 3-4 inches long. The feet and legs are furred to the first joint and they might have tufts on the ears but not nearly as noticeable as on the English Angora. Like the other angora breeds, the French Angora needs regular grooming to keep the wool tangle and mat free. In the French Angora they will molt and extra grooming during this time "plucks" the shed fiber without hurting the rabbit in any way.
For all the work involved in keeping angoras there is another competition that those with wooly breeds can take part in aside from showing at ARBA shows and taking part in breed club activities. There are also fiber festivals in many parts of the country that judge on the fiber itself. For the angora breeder this can be an important selection factor to increase your fiber quality not only from a competition standpoint for fiber but also on your rabbits.
The French Angora can be a handspinner's dream animal, taking not a great deal of room or feed and supplying homegrown fiber wherever you are. It gives a different appreciation of the work that goes into an Angora sweater when you grow the bunny from birth, feed and groom the animal, spin it's wool into yarn, and knit that yarn into a useful garment for yourself.
The wool of the French angora is somewhat coarser than other breeds and ideally 3-4 inches long. The feet and legs are furred to the first joint and they might have tufts on the ears but not nearly as noticeable as on the English Angora. Like the other angora breeds, the French Angora needs regular grooming to keep the wool tangle and mat free. In the French Angora they will molt and extra grooming during this time "plucks" the shed fiber without hurting the rabbit in any way.
For all the work involved in keeping angoras there is another competition that those with wooly breeds can take part in aside from showing at ARBA shows and taking part in breed club activities. There are also fiber festivals in many parts of the country that judge on the fiber itself. For the angora breeder this can be an important selection factor to increase your fiber quality not only from a competition standpoint for fiber but also on your rabbits.
The French Angora can be a handspinner's dream animal, taking not a great deal of room or feed and supplying homegrown fiber wherever you are. It gives a different appreciation of the work that goes into an Angora sweater when you grow the bunny from birth, feed and groom the animal, spin it's wool into yarn, and knit that yarn into a useful garment for yourself.