FARMING
As one of the principal mohair top processors and exporters in the world, we were seriously concerned about the steady decline in the production of greasy mohair in South Africa. So in 2011, the company launched one of its most ambitious projects to date.
SAMIL Farming Pty Ltd was established with the primary objective of stabilising and possibly increasing mohair supply to the processors, and through SAMIL Farming, we are showing our commitment to the mohair industry.
The project was set up in two parts:
Private land ownership and lease partnerships:
To secure land for angora goat farming and to keep abreast with the needs of the mohair processors, we purchased the 1250 ha farm, Woodlands, where the company runs a commercial flock of both angora ewes and ‘kapaters’ (18 to 24-month-old castrated male goats). SAMIL Farming has also registered an angora stud, Stud 324, with the South African Ram Breeders Association. The latest addition is a cattle Tuli stud to utilise the farm vegetation optimally.
Furthermore, to secure more land for mohair farming, SAMIL Farming partnered with one of the most progressive farmers in the mohair industry to lease a farm over 8000 ha. This farm is used solely for mohair farming and to keep a commercial flock of well-adapted angora ewes.
Kapater partnerships:
It is usual practice for mohair farmers to send a number of their so-called ‘kapaters’ (wethers) to the abattoirs to generate some cash flow and to free up land and feed for the new generation of goat kids.
SAMIL’S ex-chairman, Francis Patthey, initiated the idea to form partnerships with various farmers to buy these goats and run them on the partners’ available land with the proceeds of the mohair sale being split between SAMIL Farming and the farmer. SAMIL Farming now has ten partners in this initiative, made up of seven commercial farmers and three Black Economic Empowerment Groups.
In stimulating economic growth, SAMIL Farming’s activities have far-reaching effects in rural areas. We contributed to improving the quality of life of many by creating job opportunities in impoverished communities, while simultaneously enhancing the supply of greasy mohair to the industry.
GENETIC RESEARCH
ANGELA - Angora Genetics Laboratory:
ANGELA was conceived in January 2013, and started in February 2014. Its objective is the enhancement of Angora goats, from increasing kidding rates to the improvement of the different hair qualities as well as the overall quantity of hair per goat. The project will make available its results to all in the mohair farming community, and its intention is to generate interest to attract a wider participation of other farmers.
Angela is located on Leliekop in the Swaershoek mountain district between Somerset-East and Cradock. It is run by an established prominent mohair farmer. There is valued collaboration between Samil Farming/Angela and the Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute (GADI).
The financing of the project is assured by the revenues of ANGELA Research NPC (non-profit company), through a generous capital donation from the now retired ex-chairman and owner of Samil Natural Fibres, Mr Francis Patthey. It is projected that the revenues will be sufficient to sustain the venture for as long as 20 years.
COMBING
For more than twenty years SAMIL commissioned the combing of greasy mohair in the United Kingdom, Italy and South Africa. However, in 1987, SAMIL established its own combing plant, Border Combing Company, in Berlin, outside East London in the Eastern Cape.
As mohair processing has decreased in other areas of the world, SAMIL Combing, as it is now known, has become one of the world’s leading processors of mohair. With a capacity of in excess of forty tons of top and noil per week, SAMIL Combing processes all of the greasy mohair purchased by SAMIL, and also offers commission combing to the industry.
Unlike many processing plants around the world, SAMIL Combing focuses on and is committed to processing only mohair.
Samil Combing is structured in such a way as to accommodate small, exclusive lots on a separate production line, this gives our customers the ability to identify exclusive lots from specific farming areas.
TRADING
Based at the heart of the Mohair industry, SAMIL is pefecty postioned to source sustainably produced mohair from dedicated farmers. All greasy bales are evaluated carefully by hand and eye before processing commences.
A strong support base of affiliated companies, partners and agents, have been established for the purchase and sale of raw materials and finished goods.
As the majority of mohair is sold and exported in processed form, SAMIL plays an important role in setting the global standard for mohair tops. Commited representatives throughout the world give clients direct,face to face communication with SAMIL as supplier of finished goods and buyer of raw materials. It ensures quick reaction times to enquiries as well as constant updating of market fluctuations and general information.
SPINNING AND DYEING
SAMIL Spinning was established in 1994 and is located in Port Elizabeth at the heart of the South African mohair industry. This ensures that we have the pick of the very best mohair tops.
SAMIL Spinning is a global manufacturer of outstanding quality mohair yarns, producing a wide and exclusive range of mohair and mohair blended fancy and fine-spun yarns in both fine-count and coarser varieties.
We are internationally renowned for our extensive product range and cater for the hand knitting, machine knitting, weaving, hosiery and décor markets.
Yarns produced are both mohair blends with other natural and man-made fibres as well as other noble fibre yarn blends. Yarns can be custom dyed to any shade at SAMIL’s own dye house.
We believe in the principle of responding to market demands and pride ourselves on being an international leader in the field of both fancy and worsted yarns.
