Mohair growers beat value trend with 23% rise

29 Jul 2009

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Mohair growers beat value trend with 23% rise

MOHAIR growers, most of them in the Karoo areas of the Eastern and Southern Cape, beat the trend in falling international commodity prices when the average value of bales of the natural fibres grew by 23% through the summer selling season.

At the same time, a number of record prices were paid, Port Elizabeth-based Cape Mohair and Wool (CMW) executive director Pierre van der Vyver said in reviewing the five-month season, which had proved to be very successful.

“The season delivered its fair share of surprises, with the top kid market enjoying good prices for the first three sales of the season, after which prices dropped off for the last four sales.”

Nevertheless, he said, the last sale earlier this month still produced a new national all-time record price for kids when a bale from Billy and Fred Colborne, of Willowmore, sold for R425/kg.

“This surpassed the previous highest price of the season of R401/kg – paid to Barries Snijman, of Vleikuil Boerdery, also from Willowmore.”

Van der Vyver said a new national highest average price yet for a total clip was also achieved this season when Roelof Retief Boerdery, of Murraysburg, fetched an average of R145,46/kg for its clip, with 93% sold.

The clip consisted of mohair from a group of Murraysburg farmers, dedicated to the improvement of the breed which plays a major role in the province‘s farming economy.

“The 17 farmers involved select their top 10% of ewes to be taken up in this flock and in return they can select some of the ram progeny of the group,” he said.

“The group, which is now managed by Flippie, son of the late Roelof Retief, is run on the veld, but for selection, all the scientific tools that are available are used.”

Overall, Van der Vyver said, mohair was one of the few international commodities which rose in price during the worldwide economic slowdown which had seen countries staggering over the past months.

“At the first sale of the summer season in February, the average price was R68,04c/kg and by the last sale in June, that had risen to R83,87c/kg.”

The winter sales season runs from August to December.

Van der Vyver attributed the rise to an increase in the popularity of natural fibres for textiles, fashion products, and knitted garments.

“At an international forecasting session earlier this year, a European expert said she believed the trend and demand for angora was set to continue for several years,” he said.

“While nothing is certain, that forecast seems to be proving correct and that is great news for the industry in South Africa.”

Van der Vyver said the international mohair summit and expo – to be held in Graaff-Reinet and Jansenville later this year and to be attended by international delegates – would provide an additional boost to this important industry.

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