Project Title: Angora farmers and their goats: Standardization of mohair production in the Karoo

This project explores how the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) features in everyday practices, and approaches to, Angora goat farming, as well as how it is perceived, received, and informed by mohair farmers in the Prins Albert region of the Karoo. The RMS was established in partnership with the international NGO, Textile Exchange, following an animal rights controversy in 2018. The RMS serves as an international standard focusing on animal welfare, with particular emphasis on the welfare of Angora goats. This research contributes to broader discussions on how the RMS is implemented on farms, by looking at how it features in daily farming practices and farmers’ methods of ensuring the welfare of their goats. It also speaks to wider discussions on the standardization of major agricultural industries in the Karoo.

Key words: Mohair, Responsible Mohair Standard, Karoo