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In Iran, approximately 70 % of goats are bred for meat and wool. Markhoz goat is one of the most important goat breeds reared in Kurdistan and Kermanshah regions for Angora - mohair production. Previous research has introduced several QTLs affecting mohair traits in Angora goats; this study aimed to confirm QTLs controlling mohair traits on chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 13, 19, and 24. For this purpose, eight bucks with an average of 32 offspring were taken into consideration. The studied traits included fleece weight, average fiber diameter, staple length, and fine, medullated, kemp fiber percentage. Thirty microsatellite markers on chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 13, 19, and 24 were used for genotyping. Microsatellite markers were selected according to previous studies and goat genetic map, based on their distance on the chromosome. The least-squares regression method was used to locate QTLs. Five QTLs significant affecting mohair traits: two of them related to mohair weight traits; one QTL was significant for fiber features and quality, in particular for fiber diameter, staple length and kemp fiber. Two of them are reported for the first time in chromosomes 1 and 2 for kemp fiber and fleece weight traits respectively.

There is little information on permanent effects of nutritional manipulation of Angora does on the development of skin follicles of their progeny in utero and during the early postnatal period. This report investigates the combined effects of 3 levels of mid pregnancy nutrition (MPN) × 2 levels of postnatal nutrition during lactation (PNN) on skin follicle development and the subsequent physical properties and value of mohair until 19 months of age. Does were housed in individual pens in an outdoor feedlot from day 47 of pregnancy until 13 weeks postpartum. Kids grazed pasture following weaning at 16 weeks. MPN treatments commenced from day 47 as follows: Control (C), does fed to lose live weight (−67 g/d); Maintenance (M), does fed to maintain live weight; Supplemented (S), does fed to gain live weight at 102 g/d. From days 105 of pregnancy until 4 days postpartum the feeding level was ad libitum for all treatments. From 4 days postpartum PNN treatments were: ad libitum (AL) to allow maximum ME intake resulting in doe live weight gain throughout lactation; Restricted (R) to 70% of AL, resulting in doe live weight loss until week 10 of lactation. Kid skin biopsy samples were taken at birth, 114, 180 and 420 days of age. Fleeces were harvested at 7, 13 and 19 months of age and tested for physical properties. Commercial value of mohair was determined using known price discount responses and measured mean fibre diameter (MFD). Improving MPN increased kid live weight up to 6 months of age. Improving PNN increased kid live weight between 1–6 months of age. The ratio of secondary to primary skin follicles increased from 2.56 ± 0.83 at birth to 9.32 ± 1.41 at 4 months of age. The density of secondary follicles, total secondary follicle number and ratio of secondary to primary follicles were affected by significant interactions between MPN and PNN, with treatments S-AL, C-AL and M-R being higher than other treatments. Improving PNN increased total greasy and clean mohair production by 5%. Average MFD was affected by interactions between MPN and PNN, with treatment S-AL having mohair 1.8 μm finer than S-R and C-AL. Improving both MPN and PNN reduced lifetime MFD. Staple length was affected by interactions between MPN and PNN, treatments with the finest mohair having shorter staples. The first fleece weight was affected by birth parity and sex of progeny, but not subsequent fleeces. The MFD of the second and third fleeces for female kids were 0.9–2.2 μm coarser compared with male kid fleeces. Interactions between MPN and PNN affected lifetime fleece value with S-AL producing 20% higher value fleeces compared with other treatments. There are preferred nutritional combinations for breeding Angora does which permanently increase the skin follicle population and consequently improve the lifetime physical properties and value of the mohair grown by their progeny.

Australian research on the influence of the rate of stocking on pasture, animal and mohair growth, parasitism, mortality, and other nutritional and husbandry requirements are reviewed. Liveweight of Angora goats is the main determinant of clean mohair production, fibre diameter and meat production, but not of staple length. Both liveweight and fibre diameter are determinants of the incidence of medullated fibre. Changing the frequency of shearing affects all mohair fleece attributes. Body condition is highly correlated to the liveweight of Angora goats, to welfare risk and carcass production. The profitability of mohair enterprises declined as the proportion of does in the flock increased, associated with a decline in mohair quality. Efforts to improve mohair quality and enterprise financial returns need to focus on producing finer mohair.

Objective measurements of wool, specifically mean fiber diameter (MFD), plays an important role in the selection of replacement animals and the marketing of greasy wool. The FibreLux (FL) was designed for field use and will be a cost-effective instrument for producers if it compares favorably to the OFDA2000 on U.S. wool samples. The aim of this study was to compare accuracy and precision of the FL to the OFDA2000 for measurement of mean fiber diameter of U.S. wool. We hypothesized that MFD accuracy of the FL vs. OFDA2000 would be within manufacturer recommended 0.8 μm specifications in U.S. wool samples. Wool from animals originating from two distinct regions was used in this study. Side samples from Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota (n = 998; 21 flocks) and Texas (n = 883; 11 flocks) were measured on the FL and OFDA2000 at the Montana State University Wool Lab (MSU) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Bill Simms Wool and Mohair Research Lab (AgriLife), respectively. The FL and OFDA2000 were strongly correlated (P

There is little research on the nutrient requirements and the effects of nutrient manipulation on the productivity of lactating Angora does. The study design investigated the combined effects of 3 levels of mid pregnancy nutrition (MPN) × 2 levels of postnatal nutrition during lactation (PNN) with both single and twin bearing does, providing 6 nutrition patterns. Following artificial insemination and pregnancy scanning, does were fed pelleted rations in individual pens in an outdoor feedlot from day 47 of pregnancy until 13 weeks following kidding. MPN treatments commenced from day 47 as follows: Control (C), fed to lose live weight (–67 g/day); Maintenance (M), does fed to maintain live weight; Supplemented (S), does fed to gain live weight at 102 g/day. From days 105 of pregnancy until 4 days postpartum the feeding level was ad libitum for all treatments. From 4 days postpartum PNN treatments were: ad libitum (AL) to allow maximum ME intake; Restricted (R) to 70% of AL. This report is concerned with the responses from kidding to weaning for energy intake, live weight, body condition score (BSC) and mohair production. In AL treatments, maximum ME intake was reached during weeks 5–10 of lactation as follows: twin rearing does 3.88 × maintenance; single rearing does 3.25 × maintenance. No interaction occurred between MPN and PNN in affecting doe live weight. PNN significantly affected doe live weight from week 2 until weaning with AL does gaining 97 g/day from kidding to week 5 and thereafter 28 g/day. R fed does lost 40 g/day from kidding to week 10 and thereafter gained 38 g/day. By week 4 of lactation twin rearing does were 4 kg lighter than single rearing does. The change in BCS from just prior to kidding to day 90 of lactation was affected by an interaction between MPN and PNN. BSC of does fed M-R and S-R declined to a greater extent than does fed C-R, while the BCS for C-AL and M-AL increased to that of S-AL, which had remained constant at a high BCS. By day 21 of lactation the effects of PNN were significant, with AL does having significantly higher BCS than R does and the differences increased as lactation progressed. The BCS of single rearing does fed AL increased progressively, while the BCS of all other does declined. By the end of lactation, R does had significantly lower BCS than twin rearing does fed AL, which in turn had a significantly lower BCS compared with single rearing AL fed does. Significant interactions between MPN and PNN affected mohair growth, clean washing yield, mohair fibre diameter, incidence of medullated non kemp fibres and staple length. For fleece weight, S-AL and M-AL had heavier greasy and clean fleece weight compared with S-R and M-R with the other treatments intermediate. Similarly, the mean fibre diameter of S-AL was 2.4 μm coarser than that of M-R, with other treatments being intermediate. For both greasy and clean fleece weight, twin rearing does produced 14% less mohair than single rearing does. For R fed twin rearing does, the mohair had greater fibre diameter variability compared with other does. Overall, PNN had a greater number of and larger effects on measured parameters than MPN. Restricting nutrition in lactation was shown to depress doe live weight, BCS and the growth of mohair. Lactating Angora does rapidly changed their live weight and BCS in response to ME provision. To maintain live weight during lactation ME intakes of 3 × maintenance were required. Twin rearing does required an additional 0.5 × maintenance ME requirement compared with single rearing does. Does can gain live weight and BCS during lactation provided they are fed sufficiently. The preferred nutritional practice should allow maximum ME intake at least until week 6 of lactation.

Even though mohair production in Argentina is well known, data about fibre production from double-coated regional native goats—generically referred to as Patagonian Cashmere-remains scarce. The aim of this paper was to determine the production of down fibres and to assess the quality and variability of the fleece characteristics of the Northern Patagonian Creole goats. From late winter to early spring of 2005–2008, 2397 fibre samples were collected from five areas of NW Neuquen in Northern Patagonia. The average of down fibre diameter (DFD), down fibre length (DFL), down weights (DW) yields to dehairing (Y%), ratio of coarse fibre length (CFL) on down fibre length (DFL) (R:CFL/DFL), crimp/cm and the degree of curvature (C°) of the fibre were measured. For DFD an average of 20.4 ± 3.6 μm, DFL of 7.9 ± 3.2 cm and C° of 38.1 ± 5.8°/mm, a Y% of 32.5 ± 13.9% and a DW of 255.7 ± 66.0 g were obtained. In an attempt to reduce the variability of the fibre variables studied, locality, herds, age, fleece types and fineness were included as external effects in ANOVA. All the variables measured were greatly affected by style: long cashmere (LC) was the most frequent style (41.5%) followed by cashgora (CG) (22.2%). The most common grade of fineness (57.5%) was >19.0 μm, indicating that 42.5% of the fibre was below 19 μm in DFD. The other variables were significantly different within LC, short cashmere (SC) and intermediate cashmere (IC) styles when the grade of fineness was compared. The styles with lustre effect (CG and L) showed very low crimp as compared to the other styles. Taking styles as numerical, a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) was calculated with numerical grade of fineness (rs = 0.45), DFD (rs = 0.58), DFL (rs = 0.56) Y% (rs = 0.61), R: CFL/DFL (rs = −0.60); DW (rs = 0.56); C°/mm (rs = −0.27). It was concluded that the classification by styles and fineness could determine more than 42% of fleece complies with the cashmere textile industry requirements.

The yield and quality of animal fibres such as mohair, cashmere and cashgora are primarily influenced by the expression of various keratin associated protein genes, such as KAP 1.1, KAP 8.1, and KAP 13.3. Recent developments in molecular genetics provide the opportunity to characterize KAP genes at a base-pair level, which can lead to improved selection and genetic progress in mohair fibre production. PCR and sequencing technology was used to identify and characterize KAP 1.1, KAP 8.1, and KAP 13.3 in 108 goats, representing the South African Angora, Boer and Angora x Boer goat populations. The three genes showed varying degrees of polymorphism with between 4 and 18 alleles identified per locus. Some discrepancies in the current gene sequence of KAP 1.1 were discovered. Nineteen novel variants were identified in total, seven for KAP 1.1, one for KAP 8.1 and eleven for KAP 13.3. Observed heterozygosity values closely matched expected heterozygosity values, with Boer goats consistently having the lowest levels of expected and observed heterozygosity (approximately 0.5) for all three of the genes. The greatest variation for each gene existed between the Angora and Boer goat breeds, with FST values of 0.28, 0.13, and 0.24 for KAP 1.1, 8.1, and 13.3 respectively. Predominant alleles differed between the various populations, indicating the need for further research into possible allelic and fibre quality associations.

Smallholder Angora goat farming is widespread throughout Lesotho, resulting in the country being ranked second in global mohair production. The Lesotho landscape across which Angora goats are produced is divided into lowlands, foothills, mountains, and the Senqu river valley agro-ecological zones (AEZs). Husbandry practices, including those related to the control of gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs), are assumed to be influenced by the AEZ-determined farmers' lifestyles. This study assessed how the AEZ of the Angora goat farming communities influences farmers' demographic and socio-economic profiles, GIP knowledge, and goat management practices. Interviews were conducted with farmers from Maseru and Quthing districts selected from four areas that represent the AEZs. Our findings indicate that middle-aged males dominate goat farming in all AEZs. Also, most farmers only reached primary education, hence rely on experience for goat production. Familiarity with parasites differed among farmers from different AEZs although most viewed the GIP impact on goat health as high. Many farmers from all AEZs except the lowlands believed that diarrhoea, a common GIP symptom, is associated with their goat mortality. GIP control measures used include anthelmintics and traditional herbal medicines with differing frequency of administration. More than 80% of farmers reported offering supplemental feeds although other recommended goat management practices like shelter and sanitation were not commonly observed. All farmers reported reliance on communal grazing and many considered rangelands as sources of GIP infections. It is concluded that most husbandry practices are common across AEZs and that many of these are inadequate in controlling GIPs.

This study aimed to determine the relationships between skin surface area, animal size and mohair physical properties using estimates of skin area determined on animals prior to slaughter and to compare these with skin weight and skin area determined after slaughter. Angora kids born in late winter were shorn at 18 weeks of age. Prior to slaughter at 20 weeks of age, 15 kids of each sex were identified to cover the entire range of live weights. Body girth, body length circumference and body condition score were determined. Following slaughter, skins were weighed and skin area determined. Clean fleece weight and mean fibre diameter (MFD) were determined. Parsimonious general linear models were developed to determine the relationships between measured skin area, estimated skin area, live weight and skin weight, clean fleece weight and MFD both with and without log10 transformation. Live weights ranged from 8.3 to 23.1 kg, skin weight from 796 to 2262 g and measured skin area 0.23 to 0.59 m2. The weight of the skin represented 9.6% of the average live weight of the goats. Predicting measured skin area using body dimensional measurements accounted for 83.7% of the variance in measured skin area. Measured skin area was a constant 0.057 m2 greater than the estimated skin area. It was more accurate to use live weight to estimate measured skin area as the regression between estimated skin area and live weight accounted for 93.7% of the variance. Measured skin area and clean fleece weight were proportional to live weight 0.67, which is the general allometric relationship expected between the surface area of a shape and its volume. Both clean fleece weight and MFD were proportional to measured skin area but were better predicted by live weight. Predicting skin surface area using live weight 0.67 was more reliable than using body dimensional measurements.

The present study investigated the seroprevalence of antibodies to Ehrlichia ruminantium and the associated risk factors in goats from five different farming provinces of South Africa. Sera collected from 686 goats of the commercial meat type (n=179), mohair type (n=9), non-descript indigenous goats from Eastern Cape (n=56), KwaZulu-Natal (n=209), Limpopo (n=111), North West (n=61) and Northern Cape (n=11) provinces and a feral Tankwa goat (n=50) were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to antigens of E. ruminantium using the indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT). Fifty two percent of these goats had ticks. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies to E. ruminantium was 64.87% (445/686) with the highest seroprevalence reported for Limpopo (95.50%) and lowest for Northern Cape (20.29%). Highest seroprevalence for antibodies to E. ruminantium was observed in goats from endemic regions (76.09%), and from smallholder production systems (89.54%). High seroprevalence was also observed in non-descript indigenous goats (85.04%), adult goat (69.62%), in does (67.46%) and goats infested with ticks (85.79%). The logistic model showed a gradient of increasing risk for commercial meat type Savanna (OR=3.681; CI=1.335-10.149) and non-descript indigenous (OR=3.466; CI=1.57-7.645) compared to Boer goats and for goats from the smallholder production system (OR=2.582; CI=1.182-5.639) and those with ticks (OR=3.587; CI=2.105-6.112). Results from this study showed that E. ruminantium infections were prevalent but were widely and unevenly distributed throughout South Africa. Findings from the study facilitate identification and mapping of risk areas for heartwater and its endeminicity in South Africa and should be taken into consideration for future disease control strategies and local goat improvement programs.

The effects of feeding lucerne hay (Medicago sativa) and or barley grain to grazing reproducing Angora does on birth weight, live weight, body condition, quality and production of milk and mohair and gastrointestinal parasitism were investigated in does and kids. The design was supplementation for the last 8 weeks prepartum to 8 weeks postpartum with 5 levels of whole barley grain (GL: 0, 115, 230, 345, 460 g/d/doe) × 2 levels of hay supplementation (HL, 380 g/d/doe 8 weeks prepartum, 0 g/d postpartum; HH, 830 g/d/doe 8 weeks prepartum, 800 g/d/doe 8 weeks postpartum) × 2 randomised blocks. This provided 20 experimental plots, 10 for each level of hay and 4 for each GL. Each plot contained one dry doe, three single litter does, and one twin litter doe. Pastoral conditions were poor with low availability of green pasture until late spring. Does kidded in early August. Important results were: GL affected kid live weight, milk production, composition and secretion of milk solids, total mohair production and some mohair quality measures but GL increased fibre diameter and incidence of medullated fibres in kid mohair; optimum performance at day 40 of lactation was GL 345 which produced 2325 g/d milk corrected to 4% fat. HH increased secretion of milk protein and total solids compared with HL. Twin litters had greater persistence in lactation to day 100 of lactation compared with single litters. There was evidence that high levels of barley feeding reduced faecal egg count. Dry does gained more live weight, grew 26 % more mohair which was 1.7 μm coarser compared with does with single litter. The results indicate that feeding lucerne hay even under adverse seasonal conditions was of little value. The lactation performance of these grazing Angora does was substantially less than their potential. Optimum barley feeding was GL 345 g/d/doe. There was evidence of substitution of pasture for hay. The results quantified the production responses and penalties of Angora does when litter size was increased from non-pregnant status (zero) to 2.

Genetic parameters for South African Angora goats were estimated from body weight, mohair production and reproduction data collected from birth on ram and ewe kids, as well as on the adult ewes in three herds from 2000 to 2015. Medium heritabilities were estimated for body weight from birth until 12-month of age and adult body weight, while a high heritability was estimated for 16-month body weight. Heritability for fibre diameter and spinning fineness was high, while a low heritability was estimated for standard deviation of fibre diameter along the length of the staple and for staple length. Medium heritabilities were estimated for fleece weight and the remainder of the fibre traits. Low heritabilities were estimated for all reproductive traits. Heritability estimates of lifetime number of kids born and weaned were higher than the heritability estimated on the individual records. Expressing lifetime number of kids weaned per kidding opportunity further increased the heritability. There were favourable significant genetic correlations of total weight of kids weaned (TWW) with adult body weight and fibre diameter, but significant unfavourable genetic correlations of TWW with adult fleece weight. Fleece weight was, however, unfavourably correlated with fibre diameter. Early fleece weights were genetically favourably correlated with all the adult traits, except with adult fibre diameter. The opposite is true for early fibre diameter, which were genetically unfavourably correlated with all the adult traits, except with adult fibre diameter. Early body weights were also genetically favourably correlated with all the adult traits, except with adult fibre diameter. Maiden ewe reproductive performance at the first parity was favourable genetically correlated with lifetime reproductive performance. Different selection strategies are proposed for ram and ewe selection, where ewe selection should focus on improving reproduction, while the fleece traits should be accommodated under ram selection. Selection of young ewes should be based on early body weight and TWW at the first parity. Too much selection pressure on early fleece weight and fibre diameter should be avoided in the selection of young ewes.

Knowledge of associations between skin follicle development in Angora goats and development of mohair fleeces is limited. These associations were investigated using data from a controlled nutrition experiment which had 3 levels of mid pregnancy nutrition (MPN) × 2 levels of postnatal nutrition during lactation (PNN), with single and twin litters. Skin biopsies were taken (birth, 114, 180, 420 days of age). Mid-side fibre growth and physical properties were determined 6 times between birth and 180 days of age. Birth coats were visually scored (1, straight; 5 curly). Fibre diameter distribution histograms were analysed at these ages. Skin area was measured. Total number of follicles and fibre growth per day determined. Fleeces were harvested at 7, 13 and 19 months of age and tested. Average fleece-free live weight (AvFFLwt) during fleece growing periods was determined. Data were analysed for treatment effects, correlations between attributes and multiple linear regression analysis performed to determine relationships between mean fibre diameter (MFD) at different ages with variables. AvFFLwt over the study within shearing intervals ranged from 5.8 to 37.6 kg. Density of secondary follicles (Ds) at 180 days of ranged from 10.8 to 34.0 mm−2, ratio of secondary to primary skin follicles (S/P) at 420 ranged from 4.8 to 14.1. Total fibre growth/day was related to the surface area (size) of kids, as surface area increased proportionally with live weight0.73. Smaller kids (female, twin reared) grew respectively 15–23% less fibre than larger male and 13–16% less than single reared goats. MFD was 27.8 μm at birth, then declined before increasing after 2 months of age. PNN had small effects on fibre diameter CV which was high at birth before declining rapidly during the first three months of life. There were negative correlations between both Ds and S/P ratio with: MFD; and the incidence of medullated fibres (patch fibre growth and fleeces at 13 and 19 months). The magnitude of these correlations increased with age. Birth coat score was negatively associated with fleece value. Predictions of MFD at shearing were related to log10AvFFLwt during the growth period, either Ds or S/P ratio, sex of kid, and a covariate term for the dam MFD. Greater Ds and S/P ratios greater than 9 were associated with finer mohair and more valuable fleeces.

There is little information available on the nutrient requirements of suckling Angora kids weighing less than 10 kg which has resulted in nutrition recommendations being based on older, heavier and weaned goats. This experiment determined the energy intake of suckling Angora kids to estimate maintenance ME requirement (MEm) and ME required for growth (MEg) for 8 and 21 day old kids. Does were housed in individual pens in an outdoor feedlot from day 47 of pregnancy. Pregnant does experienced a range of controlled nutrition treatments providing a range in live weight and body condition at kidding. From 4 days postpartum treatments were: ad libitum (AL) to allow maximum ME intake resulting in doe live weight gain; or Restricted (R) to 70% of AL, resulting in doe live weight loss until week 10 of lactation. Doe milk production was determined at days 8 and 21 of lactation, and ME intake of milk, kid liveweight change and fibre growth rate were determined. ME intake (kJ/kg0.75day) was then related to daily liveweight gain (g/kg0.75day) using multiple linear regression analysis. At 8 days of age, MEm = 1199 kJ/kg0.75day and MEg = 35.6 kJ/kg0.75day (P = 0.002). At 21 days of age, MEm = 700 kJ/kg0.75day (NS) and MEg = 24.0 kJ/kg0.75day (P

With the main objective of improving Tajik mohair quantity and quality, frozen semen from eight top performance tested Texan Angora bucks was imported and used on 459 selected local goats from 11 farmers in two insemination seasons. Conception rates in both seasons were very low. Sixty six Texan x Tajik crossbred progeny were compared with 308 contemporary Tajik controls. Early live body weights, mohair quantity and mohair quality data were collected and genotypes compared after correcting for season, farm and sex of progeny, fitting age as a co-variable. Body weights at birth were higher in crossbreds (2.39 vs. 2.19 kg, P

Pedigree integrity plays a crucial role in the achievement of genetic progress in livestock selection programmes. DNA marker-based parentage testing has become a useful tool for amending inaccuracies in on-farm pedigree records. In the current study, the extent of inaccurate and incomplete pedigree records was quantified in 381 South African Angora goats using a 12 microsatellite markers. Eight half-sib families with a total of 317 Angora kids, 40 kids with unknown sires and an additional 16 putative sires were included in the study. 14.3% of the on-farm pedigrees were amended, including incorrect (according to the DNA verification) or incomplete records. Estimated breeding values (EBV) for fleece traits (fibre diameter and fleece weight) as well as body weights (birth weight and weaning weight) were calculated for 21 sires using ASREML, firstly for the breeder's recorded pedigree and secondly for the DNA-verified pedigree. An overall greater effect was observed in body weight traits than in fleece weight traits with regard to sire EBVs and the ranking thereof. The significant change realised in sire ranking after DNA marker-based pedigree verification emphasises the importance of pedigree integrity in maximising selection accuracy for the production of the highest quality mohair clip in the South African Angora goat industry.

Selection of Angora goats over the past decades has focused on traits related to fitness, body weight and fibre production. Research for genetic improvement of the Angora has been based on quantitative selection and more recently molecular technology has been applied. Although considerable progress has been made at increasing fine mohair production, the inability of Angora goats to survive sub-optimum conditions has become a concern. Selection emphasis on fibre production resulted in unthrifty animals and the South African (SA) Angora industry is still hampered by the loss of young goats. DNA marker information assists conventional selection by increasing selection accuracy, improving the rate of genetic improvement and leading to a better understanding of the physiological background of traits. The genetic diversity of the SA Angora goat breed was estimated and an improved linkage map was recently developed. The extensive production systems in South Africa pose a challenge for pedigree integrity, and a microsatellite panel was constructed for parentage verification. Selection for quantitative trait loci (QTL) will lead to increased genetic progress and offers the opportunity to improve understanding of and exploit phenotypic variation. Putative QTL associated with fleece and growth traits have been identified in the South African Angora goat population. The current goat SNP chip does not include any fibre-producing goat breed, and this chip is currently being verified in the SA Angora goat population, in conjunction with the sequencing of certain keratin genes.

To generate information on animal fiber quality traits in Central Asia, as a prelude to genetic improvement, fiber samples of 495 cashmere goats from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and 448 mohair goats from these two countries and Kyrgyzstan were characterized. Fixed effects involved location (geographical), animal age and coat color. Fiber traits included greasy down yield for cashmere (GDY, %) and clean yield (CY, %) for mohair; mean down diameter (MDD, μm) for cashmere and mean fiber diameter (MFD, μm) for mohair; coefficient of variation (CV, %) associated with MFD or MDD; comfort factor (CF, %); fiber curvature (Curv,°/mm) and staple length (SL, mm). Percentages of med, kemp and total medullation (TM) were also obtained for mohair samples. Residual phenotypic correlations between traits were calculated. Cashmere GDY, MDD, CV, CF, Curv and SL averaged respectively 26.8 ± 0.6%, 17.2 ± 0.1 μm, 21.0 ± 0.2%, 98.9 ± 0.2% 69.7 ± 0.5°/mm and 29.4 ± 0.7 mm. Location was a significant differentiating factor for all cashmere traits. Significant GDY decrease and MDD increase was observed with age. The SL was highly correlated with GDY, MDD and CF (0.63, 0.65 and −0.64, respectively), and so was GDY with MDD (0.78). Mohair CY, MFD, CV, CF, Curv and SL averaged respectively 76.7 ± 0.3%, 29.3 ± 0.2 μm, 29.5 ± 0.2%, 60.5 ± 1.0%, 48.5 ± 0.2°/mm, and 176.9 ± 1.9 mm, whereas med, kemp and TM averaged respectively 5.7 ± 0.3, 5.5 ± 0.3 and 11.2 ± 0.6%. Significant location differences were found for mohair CY, MFD, CF, Curv, SL, kemp and TM, along with a significant MFD increase and CF decrease with age. All variables, except CY, differentiated according to coat colors. CY was highly correlated with MFD (0.70), SL (0.80), CF (−0.72), Curv (−0.81) and kemp (−0.70). The mohair MFD was also highly correlated with CF (−0.99), Curv (−0.81), SL (0.70) and FM (0.64). The study detected important variability for fiber quality traits in view of (1) heterogeneity for all studied cashmere traits, except for CF, and in all studied mohair traits, and (2) significant location differences for most important quality traits in cashmere and mohair. This suggests that a good base for fiber quality improvement is in place in the region.

Staple entanglement in mohair fleeces occurs when adhesions form between longer and faster growing fibres and shorter and slower growing fibres. This results in accentuated crimp of the longer fibres and an “apparently” reduced staple length. The appearance in the fleece of Angora goats of staple entanglements can lead to the downgrading of the mohair to poorer style and shorter length grades, resulting in up to 60% price reductions. This study examined how staple entanglement score (SES) is related to lifetime factors of Angora goats, and how this relationship can be explained by variations in animal size and fleece attributes. SES was scored using a five-point scale: 5, long free fibres easily separated as no adhesions; 4, some adhesions between fibres; 3, some effort to separate fibres as many adhesions; 2, many adhesions, staple fibres entangled, shortening of staple; 1, very entangled and shortened staple. Measurements were made over 9 shearing periods on a population of Angora castrated males (wethers) goats representing the current range and diversity of genetic origins in Australia, including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Data on genetic origin, sire, dam, date of birth, dam age, birth weight, birth parity, weaning weight, live weight, fleece growth and fleece attributes were recorded. Two restricted maximum likelihood (REML) models were developed to relate SES with age, animal lifetime factors, fleece quality attributes and live weight. One model allowed fleece quality and live weight traits in the model and the other excluded these traits. Staple entanglement was almost eliminated in mohair harvested from goats shorn every 3 months but was common in mohair from goats shorn twice or once per year. SES was less in goats of Texan genetic background, and was generally less in winter grown mohair. SES was higher for mohair with low fibre curvature (FC, 10°/mm) and a high clean washing yield (CWY, 90%) compared with mohair with low FC and lower CWY (80%), and compared with all mohair with high FC (18°/mm). The response of SES to shearing regime, genetic background, shearing season, age of goat and a response to dam age were almost identical whether or not an adjustment was made for CWY and FC. There was a moderate amount of variability due to sires and individuals. We can conclude that a large part of these effects observed, namely breed, dam age, sire, and a component of the FC and CWY effects, are genetic. Mohair producers can manage the genetic effects by careful selection of sires, especially avoiding those with low CWY or high FC, and avoiding sires with higher levels of staple entanglement or that have produced progeny with higher levels of staple entanglement. Also, unidentified environmental effects are affecting staple entanglement, although a lack of a live weight change effect on entanglement indicates that this effect might not be due to nutrition.

In a range of animals, increasing mean fibre diameter (MFD) of fibre is associated with an increasing incidence of medullated fibres (Med). It would thus be expected that Med in mohair fleeces, from animals in a flock, would be related to the MFD of those fleeces. MFD of mohair is not the only dimensional attribute of fibres. Med in mohair is phenotypically and genetically related to the size of animals. This study examined how Med is related to dimensional properties of mohair over the lifetime of Angora goats and how the relationship varies with other lifetime factors. The relationship found is then examined to determine the extent that the relationship can be explained by variations in animal size of the goats. Measurements were made over 11 shearing periods on a population of Angora goats representing the current range and diversity of genetic origins in Australia, including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Records of breed, sire, dam, date of birth, dam age, birth weight, birth parity, weaning weight, live weight, fleece growth and fleece attributes were taken for castrated males (wethers). Animals’ fleece-free live weight (FFLwt, kg) were determined for each goat at shearing time by subtracting the greasy fleece weight from the live weight recorded immediately prior to shearing. The average of the FFLwt at the start of the period and the FFLwt at the end of the period was calculated. Two restricted maximum likelihood (REML) models were developed to relate Med to MFD, staple length (SL) and other lifetime factors. One model allowed FFLwt in the model and the other excluded FFLwt. With the exception of the 1.5 years shearing, Med strongly increased with increasing MFD whether or not adjustments were made for FFLwt measurements. In particular Med increased by 2.0% for each 1 μm increase in MFD, with no adjustment for FFLwt measurements, and increased by 1.5% for each 1 μm increase in MFD, with adjustment for FFLwt measurements. Within each shearing interval increasing average FFLwt was associated with increasing incidence of Med in a similar way to that which has been previously reported without including MFD in the model. There was no evidence that SL needed to be included in the models for Med. Mohair grown by the goats of Mixed genetic background grew mohair which had a higher incidence of Med at ages 2 and 2.5 years and the trend was apparent in other shearing periods. We can conclude that there is both a large response of Med to live weight and a large response to MFD, and that these responses are largely functionally separate. While the response to MFD is in accord with earlier work, there is an unrelated and unreported physiological mechanism that favours the production of Med in larger Angora goats. Clearly, larger Angora goats are biologically different compared with smaller animals from the same flock, in ways that are not purely related to the allometrics of size.

Mohair quality of Angora goats in the Sogd Province of Tajikistan was assessed in spring and autumn 2007 and 2008 by inspecting and sampling a total of 797 goats of both sexes, different ages and several coat colors from 15 randomly selected flocks. Fiber fineness was assessed visually on the Bradford scale, staple length was measured with a ruler. Midside fleece samples were analyzed with an OFDA instrument to determine average fiber diameter, standard deviation, coefficient of variation (CVFD), comfort factor, fiber curvature and fiber length. On a subset of 153 goats, kemp and med fiber percentage were determined inspecting 300 fibers of each goat with a projection microscope. Mixed model procedures were used to analyze the data. Residuals of the model were used to calculate correlations. The random flock effect was significant for all traits and the fixed sex, age, and color effects were significant for most traits. In spring shearing data, fiber diameter of males was 2.7μm coarser than females and increased with age: 27.3μm (1 year old), 31.3μm (2 years old), 34.6μm (3–5 years old) and 37.0μm (6 years and older). Mohair fiber length ranged 137.3–174.7mm between ages. Six-month-old kid mohair (autumn shearing) was finest (24.4μm) and shortest (95.1mm). White mohair was approximately 3μm coarser than brown and gray mohair. CVFD was not affected by sex and age but related to color with white mohair having a lower CVFD. Comfort factor and visual Bradford count decreased with age. Average med and kemp percentages were 0.88 and 0.34. Almost 20% of goats had 2% or more medullated fibers. The phenotypic correlation between fiber diameter and med percentage was 0.40 and between fiber diameter and kemp percentage −0.08. On average, visual Bradford count underestimated fiber diameter by about 4.1μm. The correlation between fiber diameter and Bradford count was −0.28. Thus, visual assessment of fiber diameter is imprecise and reduction of fiber diameter through selection would therefore require analysis of fleece samples. The correlation between staple length and fiber length was 0.78. Thus, ruler determination of staple length measured on the live animals is a good estimator of fiber length measured on the fleece sample. In comparison with South African mohair, Tajik mohair is not only white, has long fibers, is rather coarse and medullated. Given the high variation between and within flocks in fiber diameter and medullation there is room for culling inferior animals and improve current mohair quality.

The presence of even a small amount of medullated fibre, in otherwise high quality mohair, may have a pronounced adverse effect on its value and end-use potential. However, there is considerable confusion about the effects, if any, of environmental variables and management upon the incidence of medullated fibres in mohair. This study examined how the incidence of medullated fibres (Med, % by number) is related to the fleece-free live weight (FFLwt) of Angora goats of different genetic origins over their lifetime, and how the relationship varies with other lifetime factors. Measurements were made over 11 shearing periods of 6 months, on a population of Angora goats representing the current range and diversity of genetic origins in Australia, including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Records of breed, sire, dam, date of birth, dam age, birth weight, birth parity, weaning weight, live weight, fleece growth and fleece quality were taken for castrated males (wethers) (n = 94 animals). A restricted maximum likelihood (REML) model was developed for log10(Med + 1), which allowed the observations of the same animal at different ages to be correlated in an unstructured manner. Med varied between 0.1% and 4.3%. The median average FFLwt during a shearing interval increased from 15 kg at 1 year old to 59 kg at 6 years old. Generally, within each shearing interval, Med increased with increasing average FFLwt. However, the size and shape of the relationship differed greatly between shearing ages. For example, at 3.5 years of age Med increased from about 1.1% at an average FFLwt of 26 kg to 2.6% at 50 kg, whilst at 5.0 years of age Med only changed from 1.4% at 32 kg to 1.6% at 56 kg. Goats with mixed genetic parentage showed an increase in Med at some shearings, particularly at younger ages. Variation in animal nutrition, as measured by live weight change during shearing periods, did not affect Med. The results supplement our earlier findings that mohair mean fibre diameter and clean mohair fleece weight, but not staple length, are greater in larger Angora goats. Live weight needs to be taken into account in genetic evaluation of the incidence of medullated fibres. We conclude that any advantage in handling fewer but larger Angora goats rather than more but smaller goats will come at the detriment of producing lower quality mohair, both in terms of increased Med and mean fibre diameter.

This work aimed to quantify factors affecting the reflectance attributes of Australian white mohair sourced from five different farms and to evaluate the effect of season and year on mohair grown by goats of known genetic origin in a replicated study. For the season study the mohair was harvested every three months for two years. All goats and their fleeces were weighed. Mid-side samples were tested for fibre diameter attributes, clean washing yield (CWY), staple length (SL) and for tristimulus values X, Y, Z and Y-Z. For the farm study (n = 196), linear models, relating Y, Z and Y-Z were fitted to farm of origin and other objective measurements. For the season and year study (n = 176), data were analysed by ANOVA and then by linear analysis. The variation accounted for by farm alone was: X, 22%; Y, 24%; Z, 12%; Y-Z, 30% (P < 0.001). Once farm had been taken into account, the regression models for X, Y and Z had similar significant terms: mean fibre diameter (MFD), CWY, SL and fibre diameter CV; and correlation coefficients (057–0.65). For Y-Z, in addition to farm only MFD was significant (P = 1.8 × 10−9). While X, Y, Z and Y-Z were significantly associated with clean fleece weight (CFwt), CFwt was not significant in any final model. Season affected mohair Y (P = 2.5 × 10−24), Z (P = 2.3 × 10−20) and Y-Z (P = 6.8 × 10−22). Autumn grown mohair had higher Y and Z, and summer grown mohair had lower Z than mohair grown in other seasons. This resulted in summer grown mohair having the highest Y-Z and winter grown mohair having the lowest Y-Z than mohair grown in other seasons. The differences between years in Y, Z and Y-Z were significant but not large. When Y, Z and Y-Z were modeled with season and other mohair attributes, MFD, CWY, CFwt, incidence of medullated fibre (Med) and sire were also significant terms. This model accounted for 62.1% of the variance. Over the range of Med (0.3–4.2%), Y-Z increased by 11 T units. Increasing CFwt 0.5 kg was associated with a decline in Y-Z of 7.5 T units. The variation in Y, Z and Y-Z associated with sire effects were respectively 2.66, 3.77, and 1.04 T units. In the farm and the season studies increasing MFD was associated with lower Y and Z and higher Y-Z. The extent of the differences in tristimulus values between seasons and years, were unlikely to be of commercial importance. The extent of the differences between farms, and to variations in MFD and Med were large enough to be of commercial importance. Clean mohair colour was artefactually biased by MFD.

We aimed to quantify if and to what extent permanent incisor wear affected mohair production in adult Angora castrate goats. The goats were grazed on annual temperate pastures for 6 years. During their sixth year mohair was harvested every 6 months and liveweight measured. Incisors were inspected at age 6 years and the amount and pattern of wear quantified. Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) base models were developed to account for background sources of variation. Once a base model had been selected for each fleece attribute, an extra term for the linear effect of the first and other permanent incisor wear were added to the model. During the year mean liveweight, greasy mohair production, clean mohair production and mean fibre diameter were (S.D.): 55.6 (5.85) kg, 4.97 (1.00) kg, 4.16 (0.87) kg, 34.8 (4.02) μm. Mean wear on permanent first incisors was 9% (range 0–30%). There was little wear on other permanent incisors. Greasy fleece weight, clean fleece weight, staple length and fleece entanglement were reduced significantly with increased wear of first permanent incisors. There were no significant effects of incisor wear detected for nine other fleece attributes or liveweight. The results indicate that 30% wear of the permanent first incisors reduced greasy fleece production by 20% and reduced clean fleece production by 30%. Given the magnitude of the effects detected it is clear that relatively small amounts of wear of permanent incisors in adult Angora goats reduce production of mohair and consequently will reduce financial returns from mohair sales. The clear implication is that managers of mohair producing enterprises should assess the incisors of adult Angora goats and use this information in determining which animals to cull from their flocks.

This trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of multiple eCG injections in the induction of estrus and pregnancy in Colored Mohair goats during the anestrus season. It was also aimed to determine total dose of eCG required for induction of estrus. Ten multiparous and lactating goats were used. The goats were randomly divided into two groups and treatments were started on May 22. Group eCG (n = 5) was treated with eCG intramuscularly for 6 days. Daily dosages of eCG from May 22 to May 27 were 300 IU, 200 IU, 200 IU, 100 IU, 100 IU and 50 IU, respectively. Goats in control group received no treatment. Blood samples were taken from animals in each of the two groups just before and after the beginning of the treatments and serum progesterone concentrations were assayed by RIA. Starting on the fourth day after the first treatments, goats were exposed to fertile bucks twice daily for 30 min to detect standing heat. The estrus goats were allowed to be mated by the bucks. Pregnancies were determined 40 days after mating by real-time ultrasonography. One goat on day 5 and three goats on day 7 exhibited behavioral estrus in eCG group (80%) after the first eCG injection. Three of them (75%) became pregnant. None of the goats in the control group exhibited behavioral estrus. Mean serum progesterone concentrations had prominent elevations indicating ovulation in eCG group, but not in control group, after 20 days from the first treatments. Progesterone concentrations of eCG group were significantly different than those of control group on days 20 and 28 (P < 0.05). The results suggest that divided multiple injections of a total 950 IU eCG are effective without progestagen pretreatment in the induction of estrus and obtaining successful pregnancy and live kids in Colored Mohair goats during the anestrus season. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The present work aimed to determine how the average fibre diameter coefficient of variation (CVD) and fibre curvature (FC) differences between nine sampling sites vary between sex and flock, to identify differences in variability between sampling sites as a result of between animal and between sire variability and to determine correlations between sampling sites in between animal and between sire variability. Australian Angoras ( n = 313) from two farms in southern Australia were sampled at 12 and 18 months of age at nine sites (mid side, belly, brisket, hind flank, hip, hock, mid back, neck, shoulder). Staples were taken prior to shearing at skin level and CVD and FC determined. For each shearing, differences in CVD and FC between sampling sites, how these differences were affected by farm, sex, and sire, and the covariance between sites for sire and individual animal effects were investigated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analyses. The median mid side CVD at 12 and 18 months of age ranged from 23.6 to 25.1% but the actual range was 16.8–34.2%. The median mid side FC at 12 and 18 months of age ranged from 14.4 to 18.6°/mm but the actual range was 10.5–26.3°/mm. The general pattern for CVD was for the mid back, hip and neck sites to have similar CVD, the brisket, hind flank and hock sites to have larger CVD and the belly to have smaller CVD than the mid side site. The between animal variation for CVD was lowest at the mid back site. This implies that the mid back would be the most effective site for between animal selection for CVD. Heritabilities for CVD (range at 18 months 0.18–0.30) were only about half the heritabilities for mean fibre diameter in the same study. There was a marked anterior–posterior increase in FC at both farms and with both ages. The results give no clear indication of the best site for between animal selection for FC, other than that the hock should be avoided. Heritabilities for FC are moderate to high (range at 18 months 0.44–0.77) and the genetic correlations are high except for the hock. Thus genetic selection for FC at any site, other than the hock, should be effective for changing FC over the entire fleece. There was more variability between animals than between sites and sires. These results are put into context with associated research on variation in mean fibre diameter and staple length.

The continuous evaluation and genetic improvement of fleece traits in Angora goats are of major importance to the Angora goat industry. The objective of this study was to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for both physical and quality traits of mohair in South African Angora goats. The data used for this study were collected on between 898 and 6211 kids (depending on the trait measured) born between 2000 and 2006 in 11 different Angora goat studs. Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated with the ASREML programme for fleece weight, fibre diameter, coefficient of variation of fibre diameter, standard deviation of fibre diameter, comfort factor, spinning/effective fineness and standard deviation of fibre diameter along the length of the staple. Most of these traits (excluding fleece weight) are measured using OFDA technology exclusively, and this study was the first attempt to calculate genetic parameters for these traits in South Africa. A model including the direct additive genetic effects only, were the most appropriate for estimation of all parameters. Heritability estimates were 0.24 ± 0.03 for fleece weight, 0.45 ± 0.03 for fibre diameter, 0.37 ± 0.10 for coefficient of variation of fibre diameter, 0.32 ± 0.11 for standard deviation of fibre diameter, 0.63 ± 0.10 for comfort factor, 0.61 ± 0.10 for spinning/effective fineness and 0.14 ± 0.08 for standard deviation of fibre diameter along the length of the staple. Results from this study can now be applied for the estimation of breeding values for fleece production of South African Angora goats and in incorporation into selection programs.

The present work was conducted to determine how the average mean fibre diameter (MFD) differences between nine sampling sites vary between sex and flock, to identify differences in MFD variability between sampling sites as a result of between animal and between sire variability and to determine MFD correlations between sampling sites in between animal and between sire variability. Australian Angoras ( n = 300) from two herds in southern Australia were sampled at 12 and 18 months of age at nine sites (mid side, belly, brisket, hind flank, hip, hock, mid back, neck, shoulder). Staples were taken prior to shearing at skin level. For each shearing, differences in MFD between sampling sites, how these differences were affected by property, sex, and sire, and the covariance between sites for sire and individual animal effects were investigated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analyses. The median mid side MFD at 12 months of age was Property 1 does 21.9 μm; Property 1 wethers 22.0 μm; Property 2 does 26.6 μm; Property 2 wethers 25.3 μm. The median mid side MFD at 18 months of age was Property 1 does 27.8 μm; Property 1 wethers 27.5 μm. It is concluded that the hip and mid back sites can be recommended for within flock selection (culling) due to their low sampling variability and ease of location. While genetic selection at any central/upper sampling site should be effective for bringing down the average MFD, it might be unwise to exclusively use any one particular site all of the time. For sale, the brisket fibre needs to be placed into a fibre diameter line two grades coarser than the main body of the fleece. On some properties the neck fibre should be placed into a fibre diameter line one grade coarser than the main body of the fleece. The building of mohair sale lots based on tests from the mid side site or any other sampling site should enable segregation of mohair into lots of different commercial value. However, property specific site differences in the distribution of MFD around the fleece need to be accounted for when creating lots to meet a specified MFD.

Castrated Angora kids ( n = 210, initial BW = 25.4 ± 4.0 kg) approximately 7 months of age were used in two consecutive years (2002 and 2003) to evaluate three production systems and coats in terms of animal performance, carcass traits, mohair production and quality, and production costs. In both years, half the animals were assigned to an innovative feeding system (RF) that consisted of an open-sided barn having a raised, slatted floor, and the remaining goats were assigned in equal numbers to traditional feedlot (FL) and pasture (P) systems. Half the goats in each system were fitted with coats. Treatments and coat groups were blocked by body weight. The FL and RF goats had ad libitum access to rations formulated to produce high and moderate growth rates, respectively. Goats in the P treatment were supplemented three times a week to produce moderate growth. After shearing, fleeces were weighed and fully characterized using objective measurements. In 2002 (only), the goats were slaughtered and carcass traits were measured. The rations and supplements were formulated to produce weight gains and fleece weights that should have ranked FL > RF ≥ P. In fact, the FL and RF goats gained faster and grew more than the P goats. Overall gain rates were 124, 61, and 135 g/day for FL, P, and RF, respectively, while corresponding shorn body weights were 37, 30, and 38 kg. The larger animals in the FL and RF systems produced more mohair than goats in the P system (3.3 kg versus 2.8 kg, greasy). Mohair from RF goats was coarser than that from P goats (31.5 μm versus 29.6 μm) and contained lower curvature (18.8°/mm versus 20.6°/mm). System did not affect any of the other measured traits including scoured yield, mohair production efficiency (mohair production/kg BW), medullation, staple length, or any of the measures of trait variability (CV). System had no effect on dressing percentage but the consistent trend for carcass weight, back fat thickness, and body wall thickness, was consistent with live weights, FL = RF > P. As planned, coated produced higher yielding (74% versus 71%) fleeces compared to those from uncoated animals. Coats did not affect any other measured trait. Fiber and meat production were most expensive in the RF system and least expensive in the P system. Even with coats, mohair produced in the FL and P systems was not clean enough to qualify for the hand spinner niche market. The RF coated fleeces exhibited exceptional visual cleanliness that permitted them to be sold for several multiples of the prevailing mohair commodity price.

Goat fibres that are produced, marketed and processed in commercial volumes are mohair and cashmere. These fibres constitute approximately 0.3% of all textile fibres. Mohair is produced in South Africa, Turkey, United States of America, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Lesotho. Production is dictated by price that is dependant on very fickle fashion trends. Over the past 15 years production declined from approximately 26–6.6 million. Marketing varies from rostered auction sales in some countries to sealed bid auctions and direct negotiations in other countries. The future of this industry will depend on the income derived from Angora goat farming relative to other alternatives. Cashmere is produced mainly in China, Mongolia and the Middle East. Production is in the order of 4 million kg dehaired fibre. Marketing has changed significantly since the liberation of economies in the producing countries, but is still to a large extent through trader middlemen. Over this period, China has also evolved from a raw material supplier to a cloth and apparel producer. These changes lead to an decreased flow of cashmere to European processors.

A database was constructed for growing and mature Angora goats to estimate metabolizable energy (ME) and protein (MP) requirements for maintenance, whole BW gain (ADG), non-fiber tissue gain (TG) and fiber growth (clean fiber growth rate; CFGR). MP intake (MPI) was calculated from CP degradability properties and dietary proportions of feedstuffs. Variables, scaled by BW0.75, consisted of mean BW (kg), ME intake (MEI; kJ per day), MPI (g per day), ADG (g per day), TG (g per day; i.e., ADG corrected for grease fiber) and CFGR (g per day). For ME, the final simple regression equation for mature goats was MEI =533 ( SE =18.8)+(43.2 ( SE =4.77)× ADG ) (n=77;R2=0.52). The final multiple regression equation for mature goats was MEI =473 ( SE =49.85)+(37.2 ( SE =6.97)× TG )+(157 ( SE =52.5)× CFGR ) (n=48;R2=0.53). For MP, the final simple regression equation with a development data set for growing and mature goats was MPI =4.30 ( SE =0.286)+(0.318 ( SE =0.0471)× ADG) (n=68;R2=0.41), which resulted in unbiased prediction of MPI in an evaluation data set. The final multiple regression equation for growing and mature goats was MPI =3.35 ( SE =0.440)+(0.281 ( SE =0.0486)× TG )+(1.65 ( SE =0.394)× CFGR ) (n=83;R2=0.46). In conclusion, ME requirements of mature Angora goats for maintenance, TG and CFGR were 473 kJ/kg BW0.75, 37.2 and 157 kJ/g (113 kcal/kg BW0.75, 8.89 and 37.5 kcal/g), respectively. MP requirements of growing and mature Angora goats for maintenance, TG and CFGR were 3.35 g/kg BW0.75, 0.281 and 1.65 g/g, respectively.

Databases amassed from the literature were used to predict feed intake by lactating, Angora, growing and mature goats, using 221, 54, 282 and 99 treatment means, respectively. One prediction approach was based on a calculated constant overall efficiency of ME utilization (k) considering biotype (meat, ≥50% Boer; dairy; indigenous; Angora), BW (kg; all goats), 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM, kg; lactating), BW change or ADG (kg; lactating, growing and mature), dietary ME concentration (MEC, MJ/kg DM; all goats), tissue gain (TG, kg; Angora) and clean mohair fiber gain (FG, kg; Angora). For lactating goats, assumptions included efficiency of ME utilization for maintenance and activity: 0.503+(0.019×MEC); efficiency of ME use for gain (kg): 0.75; efficiency of use of mobilized ME for lactation: 0.84; efficiency of use of dietary ME for lactation: 0.589; tissue energy concentration (TEC): 23.9 MJ/kg; ME requirement for maintenance and stall or pen activity (MEmREQ): 0.5013 and 0.4227 MJ/kg BW0.75 for dairy and other goats, respectively; and all mobilized tissue energy used for lactation. After removing observations with residuals greater than 1.5×root mean square error (RMSE), k was 0.653 (S.E.=0.0014). Predicted DM intake (DMIP) including an adjustment (DMIAP) for the ratio of ADG:FCM (ADGFCM) was: DMI =0.0964 ( S.E. =0.0704)+(0.9334 ( S.E. =0.9314)× DMI P )−(0.1237 ( S.E. =0.05923)× ADGFCM ) (R2=0.84;RMSE=0.2187;n=191). Mean k, estimated from a random development data set, resulted in unbiased prediction of intake for an evaluation data set without observations removed. Assumptions for Angora goats that differed from lactating goats were efficiency of ME use for tissue gain (TG; kg/day): 0.006+(0.0423×MEC); efficiency of use of ME (dietary and mobilized tissue) for clean fiber gain (FG): 0.151; TEC =4.972+(0.3274× kg BW ) ; MEm: 0.473 MJ/kg BW0.75; ME used for FG: FG×157 MJ/kg; and all mobilized tissue energy used for FG. Mean k for Angora goats was 0.525 (S.E.=0.0112), and prediction accuracy was improved by adjusting for dietary CP concentration (PTCP, % DM): DMI =−0.1607 ( S.E. =0.11430)+(0.8227 ( S.E. =0.10851)× DMI P )+(0.0199 ( S.E. =0.00697)× PTCP ) (R 2 =0.65; RMSE =0.1239;n=54) . Assumptions for growing goats included: kg: 0.006+(0.0423×MEC); efficiency of use of mobilized tissue energy for maintenance: km; and MEmREQ: 0.489, 0.580 and 0.489 MJ/kg BW0.75 for meat, dairy and indigenous goats, respectively. After removing observations with residuals greater than 2×RMSE, k was 0.634 (S.E.=0.0020). Prediction accuracy was improved by adjusting for ratios of ADG to BW (ADGBW), BW0.75 (ADGMBW) and ADGMBW2: DMI =−0.0047 ( S.E. =0.1854)+(0.9637 ( S.E. =0.04928)× DMI P )−(70.27 ( S.E. =23.534)× ADGBW )+(38.71 ( S.E. =12.224)× ADGMBW )−(243.4 ( S.E. =121.73)× ADGMBW 2 ) (R 2 =0.88; RMSE =0.1030;n=266) . Mean k estimated from a random development data set resulted in unbiased prediction of intake for an evaluation data set without observations removed. Assumptions for mature goats were the same as those for growing goats except for a MEmREQ of 0.462 MJ/kg BW0.75. k was 0.632 (S.E.=0.00448), and prediction accuracy was improved by adjusting for PTCP, ADGBW and ADGMBW: DMI =−0.1241 ( S.E. =0.07374)+(0.7915 ( S.E. =0.06911)× DMI P )+(0.0214 ( S.E. =0.00381)×PTCP)−(535.2 ( S.E. =66.35)× ADGBW )+(247.3 ( S.E. =29.53)× ADGMBW ) (R 2 =0.85; RMSE =0.1537;n=99) . Because of the relatively large number of observations in this study, these methods should be useful for predicting voluntary intake of different diets by a variety of goats in or near thermoneutral conditions fed in pens or stalls.

Production and reproduction performance of two mohair producing genotypes (G1—75% Angora goat:25% Boer goat and G2—87.5% Angora goat:12.5% Boer goat) were evaluated against that of a pure bred Angora goat genotype at the Jansenville Experimental Station in South Africa. Data on body weights, mohair production, subjectively assessed fleece and conformation traits from kids born from 1992 to 2000 in the G1 (n=921), G2 (n=827) and Angora (n=361) herds were available. Data collected on the does from 1991 to 2001, included records on body weight, fleece traits and reproduction. Significant differences in body weight at all ages, where G1 kids were the heaviest, followed by the G2 kids and then the Angora kids, were recorded. Angora kids produced the heaviest fleeces (P

A review of goat production systems in harsh and dry environments of West Asia, Central Asia and the Inter-Andean valleys of Latin America reveals that while goats are an important component of a considerable number of vulnerable and resource-poor production systems, the production performance and potentials have not been sufficiently characterized nor documented. In West and Central Asia goats are raised in dry regions with prolonged drought, extreme climate fluctuation, and water scarcity, and are confined to mixed flocks interspersed with sheep. Goats supply kids, milk and fiber, especially to farmers moving their animals through seasonal grazing. Goats in these systems have not been adequately studied, nor have they received the same attention as sheep. Only a few production systems are solely based on goats; these include intensive dairy Damascus goat production (Syria and Cyprus) and extensive fine-fiber production (mohair and cashmere) in other countries of West and Central Asia. Variability for fine-fiber production has yet to be fully assessed and exploited. Goats in the arid lands of the Inter-Andean valleys are associated with the poorer sectors of the population, even more so than their Asian counterparts. Most goat farmers in the Andean valleys live under extreme poverty, occupying degraded areas with limited cropping possibilities, where Criollo goats, introduced during colonial times, are dominant. Their genetic base has yet to be characterized. While improved management/feeding is possible for these systems, access to improved germplasm is required. Technological improvements can only be viable if market incentives and some degree of intensification are possible. Thus, research and development needs to focus on market issues.

The three leading countries in the world in rearing Angora goats are Turkey, the USA and the Republic of South Africa. In order to improve the important yield characteristics of Turkish Angora goats by using North American gene sources, studies have been carried out since 1982. In this study, the effect of South African genotype on Turkish Angora goats was investigated. During the study, a total of 187 pure Turkish Angora goats (TT) were intra-vaginally inseminated with frozen semen and 79 (42.25%) goats conceived and kidded. There was no significant difference between the birth weights of kids of TT and F1 crossbred (SouthAfrican×PureTurkish) groups (2.76 and 2.72 kg). There was an increase in favour of F1 crossbreds at 105th day weaning weights (14.48 and 15.42 kg) and 6th month weights (20.39 and 21.99 kg). The liveweights of does after shearing (in spring) and before insemination (in autumn) were similar in both genotypes. The mohair yields of female goats at various age were 2.44 kg in TT group and 2.55 kg in F1 crossbred group (P

The performance of a herd of genetically fine hair Angora goats, bred at the Jansenville Experimental Station in South Africa, was compared with goats in a control herd raised under the same conditions for the duration of the project. Body weights and fleece traits for kids, young goats and does in both herds were measured, while conformation traits for young goats were assessed at 18 months of age. Body weights of kids from weaning till 18 months of age were heavier and the fibre diameter at all ages was finer in the fine hair herd than in the control herd. At 14 months of age, hair from does and bucks were finer by 2.31 and 1.47 μm, respectively, in the fine hair herd compared to those produced in the control herd. In general, fleece weight of kids from the fine hair herd was lower than that produced by the control herd kids. Young does from the fine hair herd produced fleeces of better style and more ideal in character than those of the control herd. Evenness of fleece was better in the fine hair goats than in the control herd goats. There was no significant difference in body weight between does in the fine hair and control herds. In the fine hair herd, does produced 0.36 kg less hair annually, which was 2.55 μm finer than those in the control herd. A larger proportion of fleeces from the fine hair goats graded finer, and into more valuable classes, compared to those in the control herd, which could have a significant impact on the financial return from mohair production. The results of the study suggest that genetic response to selection for reduced fibre diameter, while maintaining or improving body weight, can be achieved in South African Angora goats.

Forty female Angora goats were selected at random from the experimental nucleus of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (Pilcaniyeu, Argentina), with the aim of analyzing the variability of main fleece characteristics of the Angora goats and establishing an optimum sampling site. Samples were taken at the first and second shearings (12 and 18 months of age) from the following parts of the fleece: neck, midrib, back, britch, belly and shoulder. For each sample the following determinations were made: oven-dry yield (YLD); average (AFD); standard deviation (SDAFD) and coefficient of variation (CVAFD) of fiber diameter; percentage of medullated fibers (MFT); characterization of three types of medullated fibers: continuous (MFC), interrupted (MFD) and kemp (KEMP) by estimating their proportion, average fiber diameter, standard deviation and coefficient of variation of fiber diameter; wax (WAX); suint (SUINT); humidity (HMD); staple length (STAPLE); degree of brightness (Y) and degree of yellowness (Y-Z). All variables studied showed statistically significant variability among to the sampling position (P

Twenty-eight Angora does in week 3 through week 16 of lactation (with kids removed; 41 ± 0.9 kg initial BW) were given ad libitum access to a 67% concentrate diet with four formulated (DM basis) levels of CP ranging from 9% to 18% to study the relationship between, and dietary CP level effects on, milk production and mohair growth in different periods of lactation. Dry matter intake did not differ among treatments ( p > 0.10) in all but one 2-week period, and CP intake increased linearly ( p P = 0.09) with increasing the dietary CP concentration (548, 605, 926, and 757 g/d; SE = 124). Mohair growth was 1.25, 1.37, 1.05, and 1.55 mg/(cm 2 d −1 ) for 9%, 12%, 15%, and 18% CP, respectively (SE = 0.146). Within 2-week periods, CP intake was not related ( p > 0.10) to mohair growth; however, intake of CP was fairly consistently correlated with milk production in each 2-week period (overall r = 0.59; p r = −0.55; p p > 0.10). Dietary CP level did not markedly impact the negative relationship between milk production and mohair growth. In conclusion, milk production and mohair growth were inversely related in mid-lactation but not in early or late stages, and dietary CP level did not alter the relationship between milk production and mohair growth. Under these conditions, varying dietary CP level did not overcome partitioning of nutrients to milk synthesis or increase mohair growth by lactating Angora does.

Effects of supplementation with zinc-methionine (Zn-Met), a source of potentially rumen protected methionine and zinc (Zinpro 40, Edina, MN), on mohair growth, BW gain and blood metabolites were investigated in Angora goats. Forty yearling Angora goats (20 wethers and 20 doelings) were offered a basal diet (11.2% CP, 22 ppm Zn, 2.3 Mcal/kg DM) at 4% BW of DM for 120 days. The treatments (1–5) were: 1, 3 and 5 g/day of Zn-Met, 150 mg/day of zinc oxide and control (no supplementation). Supplementation of the diet with Zn-Met (1, 3 and 5 g/day of Zn-Met) increased (P 0.56). Plasma methionine concentration was not affected by Zn-Met supplementation (P > 0.53). In summary, supplementation of a Zn-adequate diet with Zn-Met increased ADG by yearling Angora goats regardless of level of Zn-Met added. Supplementation of 1 g Zn-Met may have positive effect on ADG and mohair growth when diet contains about 20 ppm Zn.

Sixteen Angora wethers (14 months of age and 33 ± 1.3 kg BW) consumed a 14.7% CP, 70% concentrate diet for 40 days at 51%, 65%, 83%, and 100% of ad libitum intake (severe restriction, moderate restriction, low restriction, and ad libitum intake, respectively), followed by 41 days of realimentation with ad libitum consumption, to evaluate mohair growth and BW change. BW change in the last 21 days of the realimentation phase increased linearly (p = 0.07) as the level of feed intake during the restriction phase decreased (87, 31, 36, and 14 g/day for severe restriction, moderate restriction, low restriction, and ad libitum intake, respectively SE 23.6). Clean fiber growth rate in the last 20 days of the restriction phase decreased linearly (p = 0.08) as level of feed intake decreased (15.2, 16.0, 15.8, and 18.1 g/day for severe restriction, moderate restriction, low restriction, and ad libitum, respectively; SE 0.99), as also occurred (p = 0.07) in the last 21 days of the realimentation phase (14.7, 13.2, 17.1, and 17.2 g/day for severe restriction, moderate restriction, low restriction, and ad libitum intake, respectively; SE 1.30). BW change and clean fiber growth rate within the latter period of restriction or realimentation phases were not correlated (p > 0.10). In conclusion, the level of feed intake can have a more prolonged effect on mohair growth than BW change.

Goat fibre production is affected by genetic and environmental influences. Environmental influences which are the subject of this review include bio–geophysical factors (photoperiod, climate–herbage system and soil–plant trace nutrient composition), nutrition factors and management factors. Nutrition and management influences discussed include rate of stocking, supplementary feeding of energy and protein, liveweight change, parturition and management during shearing. While experimental data suggest affects of seasonal photoperiod on the growth of mohair and cashmere are large, these results may have confounded changes in temperature with photoperiod. The nutritional variation within and among years is the most important climatic factor influencing mohair and cashmere production and quality. Mohair quality and growth is affected significantly by rate of stocking and during periods of liveweight loss by supplementary feeding of either energy or protein. Strategic use of supplements, methods for rapid introduction of cereal grains, influence of dietary roughage on intake and the economics of supplementary feeding are discussed. Cashmere production of young, low producing goats does not appear to be affected by energy supplementation, but large responses to energy supplementation have been measured in more productive cashmere goat strains. The designs of these cashmere nutrition experiments are reviewed. Evidence for the hypothesis that energy-deprived cashmere goats divert nutrients preferentially to cashmere growth is reviewed. The influence and potential use of liveweight manipulation in affecting mohair and cashmere production and quality are described. Estimates of the energy requirements for the maintenance of fibre goats and the effect of pregnancy and lactation on mohair and cashmere growth are summarised. The effects and importance of management and hygiene during fibre harvesting (shearing) in producing quality fibre is emphasised. The review concludes that it is important to assess the results of scientific experiments for the total environmental content within which they were conducted. The review supports the view that scientific experiments should use control treatments appropriate to the environment under study as well as having controls relevant for other environments. In mediterranean and annual temperate environments, appropriate controls are liveweight loss and liveweight maintenance treatments. Mohair producers must graze goats at moderate rates of stocking to maximise animal welfare, but in so doing, they will produce heavier goats and coarser mohair. In mediterranean and annual temperate environments, seasonal changes in liveweight are large and influence both quality and production of mohair and cashmere. Mohair and cashmere producers can manipulate liveweight by supplementary feeding energy during dry seasons to minimise liveweight loss, but the economics of such feeding needs to be carefully examined. Strategic benefits can be obtained by enhancing the growth of young does prior to mating and for higher producing cashmere goats.

Daily milk intake, weekly BW and blood metabolites were monitored using Angora kids offered ad libitum (AL) or restricted (RES) intakes of acidified milk replacer (AMR) twice daily during an 11-week period. Solid feed was provided ad libitum starting in week 3. All kids were shorn at the end of the experiment and midside samples taken for fiber characteristics. Average daily gain during the experiment was 30% higher for kids fed AL compared with those fed RES (138 vs. 108 g/day; P 0.05) between groups at the end of the experiment. In weeks 7 and 11 plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations were higher (10.1 vs. 8.5 mg/dl; P

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for fleece traits in an experimental Angora goat flock. The fleece traits analyzed in this study were: greasy fleece weight (GFW), average fiber diameter (AFD), percentage of medullated fiber (MF) and corrected greasy fleece weight (CGFW). Direct and maternal variance components and resulting heritabilities were estimated using an animal model and DFREML procedures on the first shearing. Six different animal models were fitted ranging from a simple model with animals as the only random effect to the most comprehensive model allowing for both genetic and environmental maternal effects and a genetic correlation between genetic direct and maternal effects. The models were tested by the Likelihood Ratio Test which indicated that the maternal effects (genetic and environmental) can be ignored. Direct heritabilities estimated with a single trait model were 0.26±0.06, 0.33±0.06, 0.10±0.04 and 0.22±0.06 for GFW, AFD, MF and CGFW, respectively. Genetic correlations were estimated with a multivariate model. The pattern of correlations showed that GFW was positively correlated with AFD and CGFW, 0.51 and 0.53 respectively and negatively correlated with MF −0.72. AFD was negatively correlated with MF and CGFW (−0.18 and −0.37, respectively) and MF was negatively correlated with CGFW −0.65. The repeatability estimates were based upon other files containing information on all shearings. The repeatabilities were 0.64, 0.70, 0.58 and 0.68 for GFW, AFD, MF and CGFW, respectively. Genetic parameters estimated in this study appear reliable and provide a better basis for the Argentina genetic Angora goat improvement program. The moderate heritability level for CGFW added to the negative genetic correlation with AFD may be an alternative solution for selection programs based on a single trait. The high levels of repeatability estimates confirm the benefits of the selection program based on objective measurements observed at the age of year.

Nutritional manipulation of mohair quality was investigated by measuring the effects of various intraperitoneal lysine doses on mohair quality and N metabolism in 18 mature Angora wethers. Animals were infused intraperitoneally with lysine (0, 1.18, 2.23, 3.35, 4.67 or 5.92 g day−1) for 28 days. Lysine infusion decreased linearly the percentage of fibers that were medullated (R = 0.30; P = 0.0006). Fiber diameter (R = 0.16; P > 0.10) was not affected. However, several metabolic changes were observed when the highest doses (4.67 and 5.92 g) of lysine were infused, which may be indicative of an amino acid imbalance or toxicity. Plasma lysine concentrations increased quadratically (R = 0.51; P 0.10) by lysine infusion. Plasma urea was elevated (linear: P < 0.015). The percentage of medullated fibers decreased linearly with increasing lysine content of the infusate. The infusate also caused accumulation of plasma lysine at infusions greater than 4.7 g lysine day−1.

Sixty-four weaned Angora female kids raised on four commercial farms were fed from 12–50 weeks of age, diets based on hay and a concentrate mixture of corn and barely. Diets were supplemented with either soybean, soybean and protected methionine (Mepron), herring meal or corn gluten meal. Diets fed from 12–16 (start), 16–24 (growth) and 24–50 (finish) weeks of age contained 22.8, 18.3 and 15% CP, respectively. Goats were shorn and sampled at 24 and 50 weeks of age. Traits were evaluated in a 4 × 4 factorial analysis. Highest body weight gain was recorded on the herring and the lowest on corn gluten supplemented diets. The differences were however, non-significant. Feed intake was similar for the four diets, although goats fed the herring meal consumed 6.1 kg more hay than those fed the soybean-Mepron diet. Feed conversion was highest for goats fed herring meal and lowest for those fed corn gluten, however, differences among treatments were non-significant. Cost of producing 1 kg of gain was lowest for goats supplemented with herring meal and soybean (C$ 1.68 and 1.70) and highest for goats supplemented with soybean-Mepron and corn gluten meal (C$ 1.96 and 1.92, respectively). goats fed herring meal had higher mohair production (5.26 vs. 4.57 kg, P −1 mohair, P P > 0.05) than goats fed soybean-Mepron. Effect of the four protein supplements on mohair fibre characteristics was significant only on variation of fibre diameter and fibre length at first shearing, and on variation in fibre diameter and fibre density at second shearing. Cost of mohair production was significantly higher in goats supplemented with soybean-Mepron (C$ 6.78) than those on the other three treatments (C$ 5.87 – 6.09). Effect of feeding treatments on metabolic parameters was non-significant for all traits. Overall results indicated that under practical conditions there was little effect of different protein supplements applied on growth and mohair production. Differences among animals appeared to have greater effects on these traits.

The aim of this study was to investigate suggestions that the high incidence of abortions and cold stress fatalities in Angora goats is due to an anomaly in glucose homeostasis brought about by selection for high levels of mohair production. Fifty-nine bucks of a large phenotype which produces a relatively large amount of mohair of a large fibre diameter (high producers) were compared to 56 bucks of a smaller phenotype which produces less mohair of a smaller fibre diameter (low producers). Basal plasma glucose concentrations were determined on two occasions: prior to intravenous injection of insulin and prior to a 48 h fast. In both instances concentrations were 6–9% lower in high producers. High producers took 22% longer to restore glucose concentration to basal levels following insulin injection, and glucose concentrations declined 28% more rapidly during fasting. The results indicate that the high producing phenotype is characterized by an inability to mobilize glucose precursors during periods of increased demand, and it was suggested that this may be related to the high incidence of abortions and cold-related deaths reported among Angoras. There was no correlation between any of these parameters and fibre growth rate, and it was concluded that the physiology of animals selected under conditions where natural fluctuations in nutrient supply are abridged by supplementary feeding may have changed to favour nutrient partitioning towards hair production at the expense of labile body protein reserves.

Effects of dietary crude protein level on fiber production of Angora and cashmere-producing Spanish goats were studied in 16 yearling doelings (eight Spanish, eight Angora) for 8 weeks. Goats were housed in individual stalls and maintained at constant temperature (21 °C) with 9 h light and 15 h darkness each day. Goats were initially sheared, blocked by body weight (BW) and assigned to one of two dietary treatments (8% or 16% crude protein (CP)) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Diets were isocaloric (2.9 Meal kg −1 digestible energy (DE)) and were fed ad libitum. Dry matter intake (DMI) was similar for Angora and cashmere-producing Spanish goats. Daily DMI (612 vs. 892 g day −1 ) and BW gain (38 vs. 127 g day −1 ) were greater ( P −1 ) and BW gain (55 vs. 116 g day −1 ) were also increased ( P −1 ) increased ( P P P P P P P P P > 0.05) by diet CP level for cashmere-producing Spanish goats. Increasing diet CP level increased mohair production, diameter and staple length, but had little effect on cashmere fiber production. Increasing dietary protein also increased DMI, BW gain and feed efficiency in both types of goats.

Birth weight (4528 observations), weaning weight at 100 days (5393 observations), yearling's (5024 observations) and adult's fleece weight (3234 observations), number of kids born (4557 observatioans), kid's weight at 100 days (4802 observations) and subjectively scored fertility status of 6547 does were studied using an animal model with maternal effects. For body and fleece weights, interactions of higher order were significant in the analysis of variance. Coefficients of determination ranged from 16% to 41%. Overall means (phenotypic standard deviations in parentheses) were: birth weight and weaning weight, 1.87 kg (0.27) and 10.82 kg (1.89); yearling's and adult's fleece weight, 0.92 kg (0.29) and 2.37 kg (0.43); number of kids born and kids weight at 100 days, 0.92 kids (0.35) and 7.96 kg (3.58), respectively. Male kids were heavier, especially at birth, and produced heavier yearling's fleece. Young does had fewer and smaller kids at birth and weaning, with less mohair weight at one year. In most traits, 3-year-old does with second parity were inferior to all other age groups. Twins were rare and only born by older does. Abortions were more frequent in first-parity does. Beginning breeding with 2-year-old does (1 year earlier than usual) was unfavourable under Turkish conditions. This age group was inferior even in the following parity, if they were fertile at all. Year effects had a strong influence on performance. When establishing breeding programmes or estimating genetic parameters, models should account for the large environmental effects and interactions, especially that between birth year and period.

The objective was to estimate upgrading effects on BW and mohair traits in a herd of Turkish Angora goats that had been crossed with American Angoras. Birth weight, BW at 105 days and 6 months (3615 animals), BW at 12 months and yearling fleece weight (2384 animals), staple length and fibre diameter (1674 animals) were analyzed. Since American does were not represented, maternal population difference and heterosis were only estimable as a sum. Individual population difference and heterosis resulted in increase of birth weight by 30% of the mean of the Turkish breed. In older animals, individual population difference tended to be negative and, along with positive heterosis, resulted in small but negative total crossbreeding effects. Yearling fleece weight was increased by individual crossbreeding effects by 11% of the mean, mainly due to the population difference. Crossbreeding effects on staple length and fibre diameter were minimal, with a tendency towards a negative population difference. Maternal crossbreeding effects were minimal for all traits, which could be due to an antagonism between population difference and heterosis. On the individual level this had been observed for most traits. The experiment indicated that upgrading of the Turkish breed was unexpectedly poor, both in BW and mohair traits. It is questionable whether the costly import of American Angoras is justified to improve the Turkish goats. Further research and a more appropriate design is needed to clarify the role of recombination effects and to disentangle maternal population difference and heterosis.

Twelve Angora goat kids (BW: mean ± SE = 18.1 + 0.6 kg; castrated males) were individually fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing 0.11 (basal), 0.20, 0.28 or 0.38% S of dietary DM (added as CaSO4). During the 8-wk growth phase, sulfate supplementation up to 0.20% S in the diet increased average daily gain (ADG) by 44%, dry matter intake (DMI) by 17%, and feed conversion efficiency (FE, ADG/DMI) by 23% compared with average Angora kids fed the other diets. Clean mohair production was numerically highest for kids fed the 0.28% S diet, but mohair fiber diameter was not affected (P > 0.20) by added S. Mohair staple length tended to increase quadratically (P 0.20) for Angora than Alpine kids. Plasma free cysteine was quadratically increased by S supplementation in Angora kids. Blood pH did not differ between breeds. Blood HCO3−, total CO2 content, pCO2, base excess in extra-cellular fluids, and standard bicarbonate were lower (P < 0.05) in Angora than in Alpine kids, but blood partial pressure of O2 and oxygen saturation were higher (P < 0.05) in Angora than in Alpine kids, perhaps due to increased heat dissipation via respiration by Angora kids. Plasma glucose, urinary outputs of creatinine and uric acid were lower (P < 0.05), and plasma free cysteine concentration higher (P < 0.01) for Angora than for Alpine kids. Ruminal l-lactate concentration (P < 0.001) and purine N content in isolated bacteria (P < 0.01) were lower, but ruminal NH3-N content (P < 0.10) was higher, and ruminal sulfide-S content (P < 0.20) tended to be higher for Angora than for Alpine kids. Angora kids were faunated, whereas Alpine kids were fauna-free. The N/S ratio in isolated rumen bacteria was lower (P < 0.10) for Angora than for Alpine kids. Calculated by regression, ADG was maximum with 0.22% S (NS = 10.4:1) for Angora kids vs. 0.21% S for Alpine kids.