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How to Shear an Angora (Long-Haired) Rabbit
Angora rabbits are raised mainly for their wool, and learning to shear them correctly protects both fiber quality and the animal's health. A mature rabbit is typically sheared about four times a year, once per season, with the best grades harvested in March, June, September, and November. Shear close to the skin in a set order, back midline, sides, rump, neck, jowl, belly, legs, never a second pass over the same spot, and time the job for a breezy, clear day with warm bedding afterward.
What Factors Affect a Rabbit’s Wool Production?
A rabbit's wool output depends on breed, sex, body weight, age, nutrition, and the season and temperature around it. Long-haired German-line rabbits usually produce the most fine wool, while females and neutered males tend to out-yield intact males, and rabbits between one and three years old are at their peak. Steady, balanced feeding with enough protein supports follicle growth, and cooler weather raises output. To boost production, choose strong breeding stock, use crossbred vigour, feed well, manage the environment, and harvest the wool on a sensible schedule.
Angora Rabbit
The Angora Rabbit is the fluffy 'grass-mud rabbit' kept for its superfine wool (11 microns, finer than cashmere). Gentle but high-maintenance, it needs shearing every 3–4 months and constant hay to avoid deadly wool block (hairball impaction). Lifespan about 5–7 years.