Relationships between blood hormonal concentrations and secondary fibre shedding in young cashmere-bearing goats at their first moult

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate secondary fibre shedding in relation to seasonal hormonal changes in young cashmere-bearing goats reared in southern Italy. We used 14 cashmere-bearing kids, seven males and seven females, of a Scottish breed-population of goats specialized in cashmere production. Monthly, a hair patch of 4 cm2 was clipped from both left and right mid sides alternately and cashmere length and its yield were determined. Blood samples were taken every 2 weeks and plasma was assayed for prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), progesterone and testosterone. With the same frequency, animals were monitored for onset of moult. Our data indic..