Weight loss during winter and cashmere yields in three breeds of Mongolian native goat

Yokohama, M.. Faculty of Bio-Industry; Kanno, M.; Nomura, K.; Amano, T.; Altangerel, G.; Dambiinyam, N.; Yo, Z.

Weight loss during winter and cashmere yields in three breeds of Mongolian native goat

2009

To establish excellent goat breeds in Mongolia, we have performed the cloning of genes related to cashmere production. As a genetic pool for this purpose, we have maintained Bayandelger (BD), Gobi Gurvan Saikhan (GGS), and Zalaajinst White (ZW) in Mongolia. In this study, the breed traits of the 3 goat populations were evaluated based on age-related and seasonal changes in body weight and cashmere production. And the following results were obtained. 1. Weight loss during winter was compared among individuals in the GGS, ZW, and BD populations. No significant difference was noted between GGS and ZW, but a significant difference was observed between the two populations and BD (p 0.05-0.01) in spring at the age of 4 years. Weight loss was the lowest in BD (23.70%), followed by GGS (24.90%). The heaviest ZW showed the greatest weight loss during winter (36.06%) among the 3 populations. 2. The cashmere yields in GGS, ZW and BD were 333.11 +- 8.32, 268.07 +- 12.30, and 222.86 +- 5.32g, respectively, and the cashmere diameters in these populations were 16-19, 15-16.5 and 12-15 micro m, respectively. Therefore, considering the hair color trait, BD, with the thinnest cashmere, may be an excellent breed. The lowest weight loss during winter seen in this population may be associated with the heat-retaining effects of the thin cashmere. 3. In BD, the correlation coefficients between cashmere length (5.68 +- 0.39 cm) and production (222.86 +- 5.32 g), and between cashmere diameter (16.53 +- 0.10 micro m) and production were 0.747 and 0.137, respectively, showing a marked correlation between length and production.

Show more [+]