@article{fd5395c8451348e6a97cd89c0f5b3538,
title = "Effect of a cashmere breeding program on fibre length traits",
abstract = "Two cashmere goat breed lines were selected, over a 5-year period, for increased mean cashmere weight (Value line; V) or reduced mean cashmere diameter (Fine line; F) and were compared with a group bred randomly (Control; C). The mean staple length of V animals increased from 42.2 to 52.0 mm (P < 0.001) between Years 1 and 5 and by Year 5 it was longer than that of F (43.9; P < 0.001) and C animals (45.2; P < 0.05). Between Years 1 and 5, the mean maximum drawn length of the V and F cashmere increased, from 50.9 to 63.1 mm (P < 0.001) and from 45.0 to 52.8mm (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean minimum length for the V line increased from 32.5 to 49.6 mm (P < 0.001). This was attributable to an increase in cashmere length in both males (P < 0.001) and females (P < 0.001). The mean minimum length for the F line increased (P < 0.001) primarily because of an increase in the mean minimum cashmere length of the females (P < 0.05). It is concluded that although the selection program resulted in an increase in cashmere production in the V line and no reduction in the F line animals, the associated increase in length and/or the changes in the relative length of the cashmere and guard hairs were likely to result in a reduction in fleece quality and value, particularly in the V animals. {\textcopyright} CSIRO 2005.",
keywords = "Breeding, Cashmere, Fibres, Goats, Length, Quality",
author = "H. Redden and D. Robson and Rhind, \{S. M.\}",
year = "2005",
doi = "10.1071/AR04149",
language = "English",
volume = "56",
pages = "781--787",
journal = "Australian Journal of Agricultural Research",
issn = "0004-9409",
publisher = "CSIRO Publishing ",
number = "8",
}