Abstract
The coat of the cashmere goat consists of two types of fibre, a coarse outer coat of guard hair produced by the primary skin follicles and a fine undercoat of cashmere (˂18.5 microns diameter) produced by the secondary follicles. In the spring both the primary and secondary follicles shed their fibres and a sparse coat of mainly guard hair is maintained over the summer. Many temperate mammalian species display photoperiodically regulated changes in the pelage which alter the insulating properties of the coat and prepare the animal for large variations in ambient temperature. The timing of the moult can be manipulated by changes in photoperiod (Allain et al, 1986) or treatment with melatonin or prolactin. Smith et al (1987) demonstrated that melatonin treatment from August in the male Blue-fox prevented both the onset of the moult and the spring rise in prolactin. In the Djungarian hamster prolactin treatment induced the spring moult and the suppression of prolactin by bromoergocriptine inhibited the moult (Duncan and Goldman, 1984).
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972)
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.