Summer has quickly faded and I am spending time harvesting the last of the dandelions, plantain, thistle, cleavers, and dock for dehydration and winter use… how time flies!
As I believe I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been working third shift which has enabled my rabbits to live a rather posh- but lonely- life. The summer here was so hot that air conditioning for my rabbits was a matter of life or death (in my opinion) and so I decided that an air conditioner must be bought and a higher- than- usual electric bill must be paid.
In addition, some introspective thinking had to take place and some tough decisions had to be made.
The current climate in my area is such that the going rate for a pedigreed French Angora is around $45.00 which, in my opinion, is absurd.
A few years ago, the average price for a pedigreed French Angora was around $100.00- which seems far more reasonable and fair.
Financially speaking, if I were to charge $45.00 per rabbit (and remain competitive), I’d have to majorly cut costs. I’d have to buy cheaper food, breed the heck out of my does, and focus in procuring cheap stock. This would be unacceptable.
Ethically, this would be irresponsible. Who needs more rabbits in a market already saturated with angora rabbits? Who needs more angoras in shelters (and in my garage)? There are currently rabbits enough who are in need of homes and breeding more only contributes to the problem.
At the rate of $45.00 per pedigreed rabbit, a breeder is more or less entering the pet market- a market in which any animal is extremely vulnerable to exploitation, neglect, and abuse; it makes it so much easier to cross the line between small- scale breeding and large scale milling.
Moreover, a legal line is crossed in that, currently, angora breeders (breeding “fiber animals”) are not subject to the same regulation as breeders who breed rabbits for the pet trade (Animal Welfare Act of 1966). If more and more angora breeders market angoras as pets and sell at pet- quality prices, what does this mean for those of us who breed for fiber purposes?
Even more important, will we be forced into the pet market- a market with which many of us want nothing to do?
Yet, to continue breeding in the current market would be adding fuel to a fire that is already burning out of control.
Sadly, I have quickly learned what other more experienced breeders have known for a while: breeding in today’s local market isn’t ethical or cost effective (should one wish to do things right). As a result, many local breeders no longer breed or, if they do, breeding is done for private purposes only.
As a relative optimist, I believed that those who had stopped breeding and selling angoras were being over- dramatic or too cautious; I believed that, with a little work, time, and money, the local issue wouldn’t be an issue…
I was wrong.
I am now focusing on caring for the rabbits I have and will only sell to fiber artists who have previous experience with angoras. I will not sell angoras as pets because I am not a pet breeder or dealer. I will also not sell angoras for less than they are worth because it would be insulting to do so- regardless of the going rate.
Instead of breeding, I will focus on spinning, weaving, and selling fiber. In the long run, I believe that this is the best decision for both my angoras and their local brethren.
No comments:
Post a Comment