Fibre growth of cashmere-bearing goats given melatonin in late autumn and winter

Abstract

Abstract At monthly intervals from May to August 1986, groups of 20 reproducing cashmere-bearing does began treatment with continuous-release melatonin implants, with the aim of avoiding winter shearing by prolonging cashmere growth and/or delaying shedding. Treatment groups, plus a group of 20 untreated goats starting in May, were fibre-sampled on the mid-side until 17 November to determine changes in staple fibre length, time of shedding (monthly intervals), and fibre growth rate (bimonthly intervals). Goats treated in May had significantly more cashmere growth on the mid-side than untreated goats in the period July–September, indicating that their cashmere growth rate was higher or that the period of cashmere growth had been prolonged. However, there was no significant increase in total cashmere production or any detectable delay in shedding of cashmere. There was no prolonging of cashmere growth or delaying of shedding in other treatment groups.