The Relationship between Medullated Fibres and Angora Goat Age and Fibre Diameter Distribution in Commercial Mohair Sale Lots

Abstract

The study involved over 1400 mohair sale lots, representative of two different growing seasons Winter and Summer for each of the two different years (2010 and 2015). The results of the two years (2010 and 2015) were generally in good agreement and could, for all practical purposes, be treated as one population. It was found that, as expected and is well known, the number of objectionable medullated fibers (kemp type) were highest in the Kid mohair produced in the first shearing (i.e. approximately 6 months after birth). Furthermore, the total number of flat and objectionable medullated fibers was related to the mean fiber diameter and the width of the fiber diameter distribution (CVD) of the sample but could not be predicted accurately from the latter values. The effect of goat age on the various types of medullated fibers could generally be explained in terms of associated changes in mean fiber diameter and diameter distribution.

Keywords

• mohair
• medullated fibers
• objectionable medullated fibers
• flat fibers
• fiber diameter distribution
• ofda