Editing Angora wool (section)

==Fur production==
90% of Angora [[fur]] is produced in China, although Europe, Chile and the United States also produce small quantities. In China, there are more than 50 million Angora rabbits, growing {{convert|2500-3000|tonne|ST|abbr=off}} per year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.naturalfibres2009.org/en/fibres/angora.html | title=Angora | publisher=naturalfibres2009.org | access-date=20 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117095538/http://www.naturalfibres2009.org/en/fibres/angora.html | archive-date=17 November 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Harvesting occurs up to three times a year (about every 4 months) and is collected by [[Plucking (hair removal)|pluck]]ing or [[Sheep shearing|shear]]ing of the moulting fur.

Most breeds of Angora rabbits moult with their natural growth cycle about every four months. Many producers of the fibre [[Plucking (hair removal)|pluck]] the fur of these breeds. Plucking is, in effect, pulling out the moulted fur. Plucking ensures a minimum of [[guard hair]], and the fur is not as matted when plucked as when it is collected from the rabbit's cage. However, plucking a rabbit is time-consuming, so some producers shear the rabbit instead. While this results in slightly lower quality fleece, as the guard hairs are included, it does take less time and results in more fleece. Also, not all breeds of Angora moult, and if the rabbit does not naturally moult, it cannot be plucked. German Angoras do not moult.

The rabbits must be groomed at least once or twice a week to prevent the fur from matting and felting. There is also a danger a rabbit will ingest its own moulted fur; unlike a cat, a rabbit cannot easily be rid of the build up.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/angora-care.shtml |title=The Joy of Handspinning – Hand spinning wool into yarn with a spinning wheel or drop spindle » How to Care For Your Angora Rabbit |publisher=Joyofhandspinning.com |date=2013-09-15 |access-date=2013-11-09 |archive-date=2009-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125215910/http://joyofhandspinning.com/angora-care.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>