Hair Follicle Development and Cashmere Traits in Albas Goat Kids
by
and
Xiaogao Diao
1,†,
Lingyun Yao
1,†,
Xinhui Wang
1,
Sen Li
1,
Jiaxin Qin
1,
Lu Yang
1,
Liwen He
1 and
Wei Zhang
2,* 1
State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
2
Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2, Yuan Ming Yuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
The authors contributed equally to this work.
Animals 2023, 13(4), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040617
Submission received: 25 December 2022
/
Revised: 31 January 2023
/
Accepted: 7 February 2023
/
Published: 9 February 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Research in Sheep and Goat for Better Fiber (Wool and Cashmere) Production)
Simple Summary
The development of secondary hair follicles in goat kids determines cashmere quality in adults; however, this requires theoretical support. After a follow-up trial, we found that the development of secondary hair follicles in kids is complete at 5–6 months of age. FGF2, 21 and BMP7 may promote the growth of secondary hair follicles; and the optimal period for secondary hair follicle regulation is from birth to 5–6 months of age. In addition, hair follicle traits at 6 months of age can be used as an index for the breeding selection of cashmere goats.
Abstract
The objectives of this trial were to study the growth and development of hair follicles and cashmere traits in cashmere goats and to provide a theoretical basis for the regulation of secondary hair follicle development and the scientific breeding selection of cashmere goats. Twelve single-fetal female kids were selected as research objects. A long-term tracking plan was created to regularly determine their growth performance, cashmere performance, and hair follicle traits. The results showed no significant difference in live weight after the first and second combing. The cashmere yield and unit yield of the first combing were significantly higher than those of the second combing (p < 0.05). Sections of hair follicles showed that the primary hair follicles are almost fully developed by 1 month, and the secondary hair follicles are fully developed by 5–6 months after birth. The primary hair follicle density (PFD) and secondary hair follicle density (SFD) were highest at birth and decreased within 1 month; and SFD was stable at 5–6 months of age. The change of MSFD took a maximum time of 2 to 3 months. The S:P increase reached its peak at 6 months. BMP4 expression increased with time. FGF2, FGF21 and BMP7 were higher at 3 months old than at the other two-time points. In conclusion, this study determined the total development time of primary and secondary hair follicles from morphology and speculated that FGF2, FGF21, and BMP7 may play a regulatory role in developing secondary hair follicles. Therefore, the period from birth to 6 months of age was the best time to regulate secondary hair follicle development in cashmere goats kids. The traits of the hair follicle and cashmere at 6 months of age could be breeding selection indicators for cashmere goats.
Keywords:
cashmere goat; cashmere; secondary hair follicle; FGF; BMP
