Effects of Melatonin Administration to Cashmere Goats on Cashmere Production and Hair Follicle Characteristics in Two Consecutive Cashmere Growth Cycles

In a study involving 24 female Inner Mongolian Cashmere goats, melatonin treatment was found to improve cashmere production during the first growth cycle after administration, with treated goats showing an 18% increase in fleece weight, longer staple length by 1.57 cm, finer fiber diameter by 0.81 um, and 15% greater fiber density compared to the control group. However, these effects did not persist into the second growth cycle. Melatonin did not alter the total number of secondary hair follicles but did advance their onset of activity by two months and increased the number of active follicles in the first cycle. The study concluded that melatonin's benefits are limited to the cycle in which it is administered, with no lasting effects on subsequent cycles, which could be advantageous for the cashmere goat industry. The study involved 12 goats in the melatonin-treated group and 12 in the control group.