Pashmina yield and its association with morphometric traits in Indian Cheghu goats

Abstract

The genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the pashmina yield of Cheghu goats raised at the Goat breeding farm, Surmani (Mukteswar) from 1975 to 1984 were available for the study. The association between the pashmina yields and morphometric traits (body length, wither height and chest girth) at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months of age were also investigated. The general statistical model included year of birth and season as fixed effects, and the sire and residual as random effect. Year of birth has a significant effect on the yield of pashmina in the first (74 g) and second combing (112 g). Sex and season had no important effects on pashmina yield. The heritability estimates of first and second pashmina yield were 0.03±0.08 and 0.17±0.18, respectively. The phenotypic correlation between pashmina yield in the first combing and body length at 3, 12 and 18 months, and chest girth at 12 and 18 months were low but in the positive direction. Pashmina yield in the second combing was positively correlated with the body length at 12 months, and all body measurement at 18 months of age.