Angora Rabbit Breed Profiles

For homesteaders interested in raising angora rabbits for wool production, the show table, 4H, or as pets, there's sure to be an angora breed to suit you. Angora rabbits are rabbits with extra long fur thanks to an autosomal recessive gene. Before you decide which breed is for you, it's best to research all of them and talk to breeders.

It goes without saying that breeders love whatever they are raising in their rabbit barn. But if you listen to them talk about their rabbits, sometimes they will reveal a bit of information or clues that will let you know if the breed is right (or not) for you.

Here's a closer look at the five main angora breeds that are recognized by either the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) or the International Association of German Angora Rabbit Breeders (IAGARB).

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Click Play to See the 5 Popular Breeds of Angora Rabbit

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English Angora

Squish E

The English angora weighs 5 to 7 1/2 lbs at maturity and is the smallest of the angora breeds. It’s also the most popular angora for the show table because of its unique face and ear "furnishings." This breed lives 5 to 8 years.

This angora benefits from daily grooming to keep the coat free of mats and debris, as it has more wool percentage than guard hair. This means that while they are gentle with children, they aren't suitable as a child's rabbit. Coat care is simply too great. They produce 10 ounces to one pound of fiber per year.

The even-tempered English angora should be housed in a wooden hutch. They come in many colors, including black, blue, and chestnut, and require the same level of care as most bunnies, with the exception of their daily grooming needs.
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French Angora

Chris McLaughlin

These guys weigh in at 7 1/2 to 10 1/2 lbs and are the opposite of the English as far as wool/guard hair ratio. In this case, the guard hairs make up more of the coat instead of the undercoat, making the French a better choice for novice angora owners and a dream for hand-spinners. This breed lives 7 to 12 years.

The extra guard hairs (where most of the color is) allows for more intense colors in the fiber. That with the wooly undercoat offers what is considered the best halo effect on a garment.

French angoras naturally molt so the coat can be harvested by plucking. This breed can produce up to one pound of wool per year. House the docile French angora in a wooden hutch. This breed is very low-maintenance, but will need frequent grooming. They come in many colors, including fawn, lilac, and chocolate.
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Satin Angora

Five Furlongs

Satin angoras were created through a cross between a French angora and a satin rabbit. At 6 1/2 to 10 pounds, the coat has incredible shine thanks to the unique quality of the fiber scales. The satin angora can live 7 to 12 years.

The wool is dense and a pleasure to harvest. Spinners find it wonderful to work with because it’s easy to spin. This breed isn't one of the bigger wool-producers, however (about 10 to 16 ounces of wool per year). While low-maintenance, you'll want to brush their coat once a day to maintain their soft fur.

This friendly breed, which comes in white, gray, brown, and tan, should be housed in a suitable enclosure such as a hutch.
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Giant Angora

Black Rose Breeders

The largest of the angora breeds, the giant weighs in at least 9 1/2 to 10 pounds and is one of the highest fiber producers in the group (from one to two pounds of wool per year). While the giant is of German descent, the giant and the German are two separate breeds.

The giant was created by breeding German angoras with other breeds such as the Flemish giant in order to make a bigger rabbit. The only color recognized by the ARBA is white. This breed doesn’t ever naturally shed, so the wool must always be harvested by hand shearing.

This breed is gentle and should be housed in a hutch. You can expect giant angoras to live 7 to 11 years. Because they have less hair on their face and feet, they require less care than other angora breeds.

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German Angora

Tenny's Angora Rabbits

Often mistaken for the giant angora, Germans are not accepted by the ARBA but do have their own association and shows through the IAGARB. This is the breed for major fiber production. German angoras come in tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell, pointed white, and many more colors.

They weigh from seven to 11 1/2 pounds and can produce an amazing 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds of wool per year. They have a lifespan of 7 to 12 years and should be housed in a hutch. German angoras resemble the English in that they have those irresistible facial furnishings (or tassels), albeit much less of them.

German angoras are very loving rabbits. They are relatively low-maintenance with the exception of grooming and diet. German angoras require a diet made up of primarily hay with additional rabbit protein pellets.

Interested in Adding Angora Rabbits to Your Homestead?

For more information on the English, French, satin, and giant angoras, check out the ARBA website. For more information German angoras, go to the IAGARB website. Note that angora rabbits typically cost $50 to $500 to purchase and then $50 to $150 monthly in care costs. They are a bigger time commitment than a short-haired rabbit due to daily grooming needs.