Effects of Photoperiod and Diet Energy Intervention on Nutrient Digestibility, Hair Follicles Activity, Cashmere Production for Cashmere Goats
This study investigated the effects of photoperiod and diet energy intervention on nutrient digestibility,hair follicles activity,cashmere production for cashmere goats.Twenty four cashmere goats were allocated randomly into 4 groups:high energy and natural light group (group Ⅰ;n=6),high energy and short light group (group Ⅱ;n=6),low energy and natural light group (group Ⅲ;n=6),low energy and short light group (group Ⅳ;n=6).The results showed that the secondary hair follicle activity were significantly increased in group Ⅳ compared to group Ⅰ (P<0.05),and for group Ⅱ and Ⅳ a significant increase of the CP digestibility were found in relation to group Ⅰ and Ⅲ in July.The DM digestibility were significantly increased in group Ⅳ compared to group Ⅲ (P<0.05),and the NDF and CP digestibility were significantly increased in group Ⅲ compared to group Ⅳ and Ⅰ (P<0.05),and the secondary hair follicle activity were significantly increased in group Ⅱ compared to other three groups(P<0.05)in September.The body weight were significantly increased in group Ⅰ compared to group Ⅳ (P<0.05),for group Ⅱ and Ⅳ,a significant increase of the CP digestibility were found in relation to group Ⅰ and Ⅲ,the secondary hair follicle activity were significantly increased in group Ⅳ compared to group Ⅱ (P<0.05),the cashmere length were significantly increased in group Ⅱ and Ⅳ compared to group Ⅰ and Ⅲ (P<0.05),the cashmere diameter was significantly decreased in group Ⅳ compared to group Ⅰ (P<0.05),and the cashmere weight were significantly reduced in group Ⅲ compared to group Ⅱ (P<0.05).In the experimental conditions,the goats' weight and cashmere diameter were significantly increased in the same light time and high energy group.A significant increase of the DM,NDF,CP digestibility,the secondary hair follicle activity,the cashmere length and the cashmere weight were found in the same energy level of short light time.