Selection strategies for fiber quality in Alashan cashmere goat

Abstract

Over the last ten years, many authors have attempted to study various genetic patterns and how they relate to improved cashmere fiber production. Unfortunately, the way the sector is currently structured hinders any “on the filed” attempts to apply modern quantitative and molecular techniques to improve fiber characteristics through selection. The process is complicated by the fact that cashmere fiber quality is normally assessed when the animal is approximately a year old. The study investigates the prediction of cashmere quality in adult Alashan cashmere goats from measurements on young animals. Ten fleece samples were collected from 12 kids until 14 months of age (1,441 records). Fiber quality, determined by OFDA, was measured monthly. The statistical analysis indicates that the kid random effect is highly significant (P≤0.0001) throughout the test period and thus confirms a genetic effect on cashmere fleece characteristics; the age effect was also found to be consistently significant. The measured traits showed an increasing trend of mean values up to the 5th -7th month. The fiber girth stabilises by the fifth month reaching a thickness of 14.46 μm. All studied traits show a strong correlation with fiber quality beyond the fifth month. Furthermore, although adult fleece quality can be predicted beyond the fifth month of age, this usually coincides with the warm summer period and hence is an unsuitable season for the evaluation of fleece. Under such situations it may be recommended to postpone the evaluation beyond the age at eight months during the cooler months.