Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Twenty-four Raeini cashmere goat females (2 and 3 years of age and 35.0±1.4 kg BW) were used to determine effects of melatonin implants and bromocryptine on fiber growth rate (length), cashmere and hair diameter and fleece production. A completely random design was carried out. Four groups were formed: 1) control, 2) melatonin implant, 3) bromocryptine injection and 4) melatonin implant + bromocryptine injection. The experimental goats received melatonin implants subcutaneously 18 mg/kg BW at first and repeated after 40 days, group 2), bromocryptine ( 0.5 mg/kg BW per 3 days; group 3) and melatonin implant and with bromocryptine; group 4 ). All goats were fed a balanced diet under the same environmental and natural photoperiodic conditions in a 60-day, from February to March. Overall mean fleece weight were 607.4, 600.3, 523.3 and 471.3g, for bromocryptine, melatonin+bromocryptine, melatonin and control groups, respectively, being greater for bromocryptine and melatonin+bromocryptine than for the other groups (P<0.05). The cashmere fibre length of the treatment groups (1.2 cm) were significantly greater (P<0.01) than that of the control group (0.9 cm). There was a significant difference in cashmere fiber diameter for control group (21.7 micron) compared with treatment groups for melatonin, bromocryptine and melatonin+bromocryptine (18.4, 18.4 and 19.2 ± 0.9 micron, respectively). The results indicated that melatonin implantation and bromocryptine could increase fiber length and promote cashmere production continuously.

Keywords

سال‌نامه آماری کشور. 1387. سال‌نامه آماری استان کرمان. صفحه 66.
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