FLEECE AND SKIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED AUSTRALIAN ANGORA-GOATS

Greasy fleece weights (GFW) and shorn body weights (BW) of two generations of a herd of Angora goats were measured at their second shearing at 15 months of age. Skin samples yielded data on primary and secondary follicle density and fibre diameter (FD), the proportion of fibres that were medullated and the ratio of secondary to primary follicles ( S P ratio). Fleece samples were used to assess yield and staple length. There were large differences in all traits except primary follicle density between the two generations. Does had a lower incidence of medullated fibres, a greater density of primary and secondary follicles and a lower fibre diameter than bucks. Parameters of fleece quality compared favourably with Texan and South African Angoras, but fleece weight was inferior. Important positive phenotypic correlations were found between GFW and both BW and S P ratio, and between medullation and both primary and secondary follicle density, while GFW and BW were negatively related to follicle density. No correlation could be found between GFW and FD. © 1990.