Livestock Studies 1976, Vol 16, Num, 3-4     (Pages: 085-093)

Follicles charecteristics in Angora Goats at different age

Şefik MÜFTÜOĞLU , Kamuran ÖZNACAR ,M. Ali TEKEŞ

- The only expected yield in breeding Angora Goats is to get mohair. The mohair density or the number of fibers on each hide/unit can be the criteria for the yield. Studies on the follicles can make it possible to estimate the yield as well as the homogenity of the fleece. This study was carried out on Angora kids in the fist month after the parturition with the aim of analysing the formation and the characteristics of the follicles in certain periods, and compare this results with the like characteristics of the third and the sixth months.

40 kids, 20 females and 20 males, were used for this experiment. First samples of hides were taken from the kids when they were 5 – 26 days old, second and third saples when they were 3 – 6 months old. The samples were examined in the laboratory with certain methods and the results were analysed statistically and the following points were found.

1. At the first month after the parturition there was no difference in the number of primary follicles but the secondary follicles were increased. The number of follicles in 1 mm2 was 24.68 when they were 5 – 10 days old, 32.56 in 10 – 20 days and 41.91 in 20 – 26 days old. The S/P rations weres 2.1, 3.0 and 5.8 for the same age groups respectively. Sex was not a significant factor on these characteristics.

2. The number of primary and secondary follicles in the 3 months old fleece were 4.1 and 29.0, in 6 months old fleece were 3.3 and 24.6 respectively. The S/P rations for these periods were 7.3 and 7.5. The decrease in the number of follicles which was seen as they aged was because of the expansion of the sikin surface due to the body development. The unsignificant differences between the S/P ratios show that the number of follicles becomes constant in the tihird month. When this ratio is compared with the like value of the parturation fleece, it is seen that the formation of the primary follicles of the Angora Goats take place in the embryonic stage, while secondary follicles carry in their formation after the parturation and even 80 % of them continue to be formed till the and of the first month. Keywords :