Angora Goats originated in Turkey and were highly prized by the Sultan. Exports were guarded and infrequent. Today's mohair industry is based mainly on herds developed in South Africa and the United States. Original imports were to these countries in the mid to late nineteenth century. Imports between South Africa and Texas have been infrequent. A large number of bucks were imported from South Africa to Texas in 1925.
In 1993 and 1994 importations of Angora goats from South Africa to Texas were successfully undertaken by the Haby-Lockhart-Ross-Speck Partnership. In 1993, a partnership was formed between myself, Hayden Haby, Jesse Lockhart, and Joe David Ross to attempt to import Angora goats from South Africa. The Thorn Park Angoras Stud (a Stud is a recorded registered herd) was having a dispersal sale.  We were able to purchase a number of bucks and does from  that sale. Arranging a protocol with the U.S.D.A  for importation into the U.S. is another lengthy story but the end result is; it was accomplished.  We were also able to obtain some bucks and does from the Martyrsford Stud in the initial shipment. In 1994 a second importation was accomplished and a select few goats from the Martyrsford, Loch Dale Angoras, and Waldeck Angora Stud were imported.  We are especially appreciative of the help of our fifth partner , Mike Hobson (a South African farmer with an Angora Stud) in selecting the excellent breeding stock from the Martyrsford Stud.

Speck Angoras has genetics that are "Texas", combination Texas and South African, and "South African".
The South African Angoras are Haby-Lockhart-Ross-Speck Partnership goats. Pedigrees of the straight "Texas" goats have not been traced back to the 1925 importation of South African genetics.
 
Why did we import South African goats?  That is a question we are frequently asked.  I will make some general observations on both the South African goats and our Texas goats in an attempt  to answer that question. Haby, Lockhart, Ross, and myself all strive to produce goats with fine, high yielding, stylish hair. My herd, for instance, has evolved to have a large number of goats with very fine, ringlet, high yielding hair that is uniform on the goat from the neck to the breech. I have attempted to eliminate kemp but still have goats I cull for excessive kemp. Luckily I have managed to obtain good body size and conformation on the majority of the goats but there are a number of goats with beautiful fleeces that lack spring of rib, have a narrow loin and narrow set back legs. Our horns  are not as uniform as we would like. While the majority of our goats have good staple length, some of the very fine goats could use longer staple. The South African goats we imported had some features we felt would complement our goats. We were impressed with the excellent body conformation with wide spring of ribs, wide loin, level rump, and correct hip and leg structure that a number of South African goats enjoy. We also selected on freedom from kemp. The excellent staple length and very high yield to the hair were other factors we felt would be helpful. We hope to incorporate the positive attributes the South African goats offer with the positive attributes our goats have in an endeavor to produce the “perfect goat”.

In the Speck Angora herd, we maintain about fifty percent straight "Texas" goats. We also continue to mix and match with South African goats. Our goal is to produce breeding stock that will consistently produce uniform offspring. The  task is both rewarding and beset with obstacles.

The foundation of the Speck Angora herd was significately contributed to by the Haby stud bucks,  legendary"Superfine 484" and H-787 "Son of Champion". "Champion" was a Ross stud buck ahead of his time.

Bloodlines that contributed included Pember, Schmidt, Lockhart, Ross, Haby, Ebling, and Oehler.From this base a number of FLS (Speck Angora) bucks and does have been produced. Listed below are examples of some noteworthy bucks.

4P 210 - This  large, upstanding, proud buck has a ringlet, very uniform fleece. His sire is FLS8-43, the best son of Haby 787, “Son of Champ” we ever raised. On the show circuit, he has been Champion or Reserve Champion Buck at many major shows. He sired one of our best breeding studs, FLS2-404 .

FLS2-404 - This buck breeds true and has produced super kids. He has excellent conformation with a wide spring of ribs, wide hindquarters, straight back legs, and strong typical horns. He carries a fine, ringlet yearling grade fleece and is uniform from neck to britch. His sire is 4P-210, grand sire is FLS8-43, and great-grand sire is H-787.

FLS1-249 - This is one of the finest fleeced, most uniform bucks we have. His sire is FLS9-68 and his dam, FLS9-76, is a daughter of “Superfine”. In 1994 he was the first place Aged Buck at the Kerrville, San Antonio, and Houston Jr. Stock Shows.

FLS6-1382 - When Hayden Haby & Jesse Lockhart saw this buck as a yearling, they called him the "perfect buck". He  has correct horns, thick body, and a fine ringlet long stapled fleece with kid hair. He is a son of 404 and has  produced many excellent kids.

FLS8-1810 - A son of 1382, this buck still carries a fine ringlet kid fleece and has produced many excellent kids. He is one of our top producers. His mother is out of 249 and was on the show circuit. She won the Grand Champion Goat of Show in Kerrville in 1997.

FLS0-2671 - This is a son of 404 with an excellent conformation. He is wide-bodied, level rumped, walks wide, and is showy with a mohair tail. He produces excellent offspring.  He is 75% Texan and carries a fine fleece. We credit his body conformation to both his South African grandfather(Hobson-04 ) and FLS2-404.