Type of hair

The Duvet or Underhair

These hairs have a centre channel with approx. 12 micron with the ewes and 11 micron with the rams. There is no difference in fibre finesse related to the age of the rabbits. This centre channel is filled up to 65% with air chambers. The duvet fibre is crimped with an average of 6 – 7 curves

Coarse hair

The coarse hair do have 3-8 parallel centre channels with a diameter of 25 -100 mic. The quantity of coarse hair varies on the animals; there are more on the back as on the side or on the belly. The percentage could vary from 0% to 20%. Closer to 0% are the German type of breed whereas in direction of 20% there is the French type. There is no crimp and they are 3-4 times coarser and longer than the duvet fibres.

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Coarse hair (source: le lapin angora, Thébault / Rougeot)

Intermediate fibres (between coarse hair and duvet)

These fibres have 1 – 2 centre channels with a diameter of 20 – 30 mic.

The fibre is very sleek with no crimp.

Tuft of fibres / Coarse hair / Intermediate fibres, guard hair / Duvet (source: le lapin angora, Thébault / Rougeot)

All Angora rabbit fibres grow in tufts of hair.

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above: Tufts of hair in detail; right: Various categories of angora fibres

(source: le lapin angora, Thébault / Rougeot)