title: Follicle characteristics of non-woolly Indian goats.
abstract: Skin follicular studies of four non-woolly Indian goat breeds are reported. The number of primary follicles ranged from 2 to 14 mm-2 with an overall mean of 6.40 +/- 0.22. Secondary follicles per mm2 ranged from 1 to 23 with an overall mean of 9.48 +/- 0.55. The secondary/primary follicle ratios (S/P) for Black Bengal, Jamnapari, Barbari and Sirohi goats were 1.57 +/- 0.21, 1.15 +/- 0.16, 1.61 +/- 0.21 and 2.04 +/- 0.21, respectively, with an overall mean of 1.59 +/- 0.99. The corresponding values for the total follicles per mm2 for the four breeds were 16.83 +/- 1.39, 15.86 +/- 1.08, 17.66 +/- 1.41 and 13.19 +/- 1.41 with an overall mean of 15.88 +/- 0.66. Per cent primaries were lowest in Sirohi and highest in Jamnapari goats. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between breeds for the number of primary follicles and S/P ratio. Sex differences and the interaction between breed x sex were not significant for any of the follicle traits studied. On the basis of follicle characteristics the non-woolly short-haired goats offer a reasonable scope for crossing with fibre goats, and Sirohi goats possibly have better skin quality for leather conversion than other goat breeds studied.
authors.affiliation: Livestock Production Research (CG&LA), Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar-Kumaon, District Nainital.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Somvanshi
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006197:Hair / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics