Abstract:
424 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 THE EFFECT OF BIANNUAL SHEARING UPON CASHMERE PRODUCTION T. J . JOHNSON In Western Australia, cashmere is normally produced by feral goats between January and June, and the recommended shearing time is during July. The average production from ferals, after 1 year on farm is 60 g cashmere/year (Johnson, 1985), with a range of 1 to 140 g/year. The production of cashmere does not appear to respond to improved nutrition (Johnson and Rowe 1984). Scope for increased production therefore lies in genetic selection and perhaps management practices such as biannual shearing (B. McDonald personal communication). The objective of the experiment reported here was to measure the effect of biannual shearing upon cashmere production in a herd of feral and first cross (F1) does. In mid April, 37 feral and 110 Fl does were divided into three groups according to their derivation. The Fl group was further subdivided according to whether they were 2.5 years (35) and 3.5 years (75). Animals with similar down lengths were distributed equally between shearing treatments. Half were totally shorn on April 15, then combined with the unshorn animals, at pasture. On July 15, both groups were remeasured for down length, and all does were totally shorn. All animals were included in a natural mating programme which commenced on May 1 and continued until June 5. Table 1. Cashmere growth (g) measured under the two shearing systems. LSD:least significant difference (P < 0.05) between annual and biannual shearing treatments. The feral does shorn twice produced 76% more down than those shorn once only. Similarly double shorn first cross does 2.5 years and 3.5 years of age produced 45% and 13% more than those in the single shorn group. The additional cashmere production resulting from the shearing in April is attributed to a stimulation of the down growth cycle. From these results, the strategy of shearing feral and first cross does twice during the cashmere growth cycle is an economic consideration. JOHNSON, T-J, 1985. 3. Agric. W. Aust . (4th Series), 26: 3. JOHNSON, T-J. and ROWE, J.B. 1984. Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. fi: 400. Department of Agriculture, Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, W.A. 6151.