Hair Follicle Development and Cashmere Traits in Albas Goat Kids

This study on Albas goat kids aimed to understand hair follicle development and cashmere traits, involving 12 single-fetal female kids. It found that primary hair follicles were nearly fully developed by 1 month, while secondary follicles completed development by 5-6 months. The primary and secondary follicle densities were highest at birth, with secondary density stabilizing by 5-6 months. The study suggested that the period from birth to 6 months was optimal for regulating secondary hair follicle development, with proteins like FGF2, FGF21, and BMP7 potentially playing regulatory roles. These findings indicated that hair follicle and cashmere traits at 6 months could serve as breeding selection indicators for cashmere goats.