TLDR Goat hair growth is influenced by light cycles and diet, and skin diseases in goats are diagnosed through a step-by-step process and often involve viral or bacterial infections.
The document reviews the structure and function of goat skin, with a focus on hair growth. It notes that hair growth in goats is similar to other land mammals and is influenced by factors such as photoperiod, likely through melatonin, and nutrition. Certain goat breeds are specifically kept for fiber production, with mohair consisting of non-medullated fibers lacking crimp. The document also discusses the diagnosis of skin diseases in goats, which involves a progression from history, to a general clinical examination, to a detailed skin examination, and finally to confirmatory testing or diagnosis by response to therapy. It mentions that contagious ecthyma and capripox viruses cause prominent skin lesions in goats, and that secondary bacterial infections, especially staphylococci, commonly invade almost any skin lesion on a goat.
38 citations,
May 2000 in “Livestock production science” Giving high-quality protein or methionine supplements helps improve hair growth in Angora goats and, to a lesser extent, in Cashmere goats.
26 citations,
July 1995 in “Small ruminant research” Melatonin implants affect the growth and pattern of cashmere goat fleece depending on the time of year they are given.
5 citations,
September 1991 in “Veterinary dermatology” Pygmy goats with seborrhoeic dermatitis showed skin symptoms and temporary improvement with corticosteroids, but the cause and inheritance of the disease remain unknown.
120 citations,
November 2014 in “Biological Reviews” The telogen phase of hair growth is active and important for preparing hair follicles for regeneration, not just a resting stage.
1 citations,
February 2023 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” Melatonin improves cashmere goat hair quality by increasing follicles and reducing skin aging.
9 citations,
April 2019 in “Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry” Ten miRNAs may play key roles in starting secondary hair follicle development in sheep foetuses.
109 citations,
October 2007 in “Journal of pineal research” Melatonin helps regulate hair growth and protects the hair follicle from stress.
1 citations,
March 2023 in “PloS one” Different amounts of daylight affect cashmere growth in goats by changing the activity of certain genes and molecules.
