Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1991, 51: 429-436
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1991, 51: 429-436
Group 1 progeny were heavier and had finer fleeces and lower down weights than group 2 progeny at all three shearing date. Group fleeces were 0.6, 0.9 and 1.0 micron finer and 71, 86 and 109 grams lighter than Group 2 at the three shearing dates respectively. Fibre diameter increased during the experiment to a greater extent in Group 2 (3.8±0.1 microns) than group 1 (3.4±0.1 microns). Group 1 had a lower yield percentage of down (12%, 10% and 6% lower) than Group 2 at all three shearings.
At the first shearing fleeces from Group 1 were classed predominantly into the cashmere lines, however at the last shearing fleeces were classed predominantly into the cashgora lines. Group 2 fleeces at the first shearing were classed equally into cashmere and cashgora lines but by the last shearing fleeces were classed into cashgora and mohair lines. Group 2 returned an additional fibre return of $4.80 at the first shearing but thereafter the fleece returns were similar in the two groups.
Keywords: NZSAPAB; Goats; cashgora; cashmere; fibre diameter; yield; fleece weight; down weight; fibre classing
