Giant Angora

ARBA describes Giant Angora as a breed developed specifically for wool production. The ARBA-chartered NARBC records its acceptance in 1988, placing it in a modern North American registry context rather than treating it as a synonym for every large or German-type Angora.

The Giant is ARBA’s largest Angora and its coat contains underwool, awn fluff and awn hair. NARBC lists it as a six-class breed with senior minimums of 4.31 kg for bucks and 4.54 kg for does, while ARBA gives no maximum. FGF5 research helps explain the long-hair phenotype, but size or wool alone cannot verify pedigree.

A breed name does not guarantee a particular temperament. A Giant Angora needs calm, gradual training for full-body inspection and shearing, plus enough secure space to run, rear, rest, hide and interact with a compatible rabbit; selecting solely for coat volume can make routine care harder.

ARBA states that Giant Angoras do not moult and must be shorn. Set a coat-specific schedule with safe tools and restraint, examine armpits, groin, tail, feet and skin, and never pull resistant fibre. Provide unlimited grass hay and water, appropriate greens and measured complete pellets, and record shearing dates and coat condition.

Dense wool can conceal wounds, parasites, urine contamination, sore feet and weight loss. MSD notes that swallowed hair normally passes and that low fibre intake, pain or reduced eating commonly contributes to gastrointestinal stasis. Less appetite or faeces, abdominal swelling, pain or lethargy needs prompt rabbit-experienced veterinary assessment.

Breed only rabbits with healthy skin, eyes, teeth, feet and digestion, sound body condition, stable handling behaviour and a coat that can be managed humanely. Record shearing interval, grooming time, matting, fibre weight, injuries, appetite events, pedigrees, matings, kindlings, kit survival and doe recovery; wool yield and litter size are not fixed breed guarantees.

• Record the registry, age and sex beside every weight.
• Do not select extreme coat if it increases matting or handling injury.
• Investigate chronic skin, dental, foot or gut problems before breeding.