Hair Follicle Development and Cashmere Traits in Albas Goat Kids

The study on Albas goat kids, involving 12 female subjects, aimed to understand hair follicle development and cashmere traits, highlighting the role of secondary hair follicles. It found that secondary follicles were fully developed by 5-6 months, with FGF2, FGF21, and BMP7 potentially promoting their growth. The period from birth to 6 months was optimal for regulating secondary follicle development, crucial for lifetime cashmere quality. Primary follicle density decreased over time, while secondary follicle density increased rapidly from 1 month. Gene expressions peaked at 3 months, indicating their role in follicle growth. The first combing yielded more cashmere than the second, and traits at 6 months could indicate breeding selection for cashmere quality.