Estimation of cashmere production from cashmere fibre length in goats

Abstract

Length was measured in situ on 1329 male and female goats and significant (P< 0.01) linear relationships between cashmere length and the weight of cashmere produced was found in all age groups and sexes. Values ofR2ranged from 0.50 to 0.75, suggesting that cashmere length is a reasonable independent variable for predicting cashmere production. Pooling data provided significant (P< 0.01) linear regressions of cashmere production (g) on length (mm) for one group composed of 18-, 21-, 33-month wethers, 9- month bucks and non-pregnant and pregnant does (y = 2.03x - 16.86), and another group composed of 5- and 9-month does (y= 1.51x- 10.99). The 6 regressions developed from this study provide the basis of a simple inexpensive method of estimating cashmere production in groups of goats within a flock.