Estimates of environmental effects for liveweight and fleece characteristics of New Zealand cashmere goats

Abstract

Liveweight and fleece characteristics were recorded over 6 years in a New Zealand cashmere goat flock. Traits examined were birth weight, weaning weight, spring liveweight, fleece weight, yield, down weight, fibre diameter, standard deviation of fibre diameter, and down length. Kid and hogget liveweight traits were affected by year, birth and rearing rank, sex, age of dam, and age of the goat at shearing. Hogget fleece weight was significantly affected by year, sex, age of dam, and age at shearing; however, only year effects were significant for hogget down weight and fibre diameter. Year and age effects were significant for all doe traits. Hoggets were consistently different from all older groups, and 2- and 3-year-old does varied from 4-year and older does. Phenotypic correlations between liveweight, fleece weight, down weight, and fibre diameter were all positive and of low—medium magnitude. © 1996 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.