The influence of pregnancy and the beginning of lactation on pelage traits in cashmere goats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pregnancy followed by the beginning of lactation on fibre traits in cashmere goats. Two groups of cashmere-bearing goats aged between 2-3 years were used. The control group (A) included 12 non-lactating, non-pregnant subjects. The experimental group (B) included 12 goats mated during the first week of June, in order to have pregnancy and the beginning of lactation coincide with the period when cashmere normally grows. As expected, Liveweight significantly varied in Group B during the last two months of pregnancy, when foetal growth reaches its maximum, and following delivery. Hair patch weight, because of the continuous growth of primary..