6 citations
,
December 1966 in “Textile Research Journal” Animal hair fibers like wool and mohair are strong when dry, but vicuna fibers are very brittle.
27 citations
,
January 2010 in “Animal” South American camelids should be sheared early, fleece type affects fiber quality, and the S/P follicle ratio doesn't distinguish between Bolivian llama genotypes.
13 citations
,
November 2015 in “Gene” Let-7b helps alpaca hair grow by reducing TGFβR I protein.
February 2024 in “BMC genomics” The TRPV3 gene variant may cause the long-haired suri alpaca coat.
1 citations
,
October 2023 in “Animals” Certain DNA regions in alpacas are linked to fiber diameter.
4 citations
,
March 2016 in “Small ruminant research” Vicuña wool's quality is due to a high density of fine secondary hair follicles, and their skin glands may be used for communication.
7 citations
,
June 2017 in “Gene” Overexpression of FGF5s makes Chinese Merino sheep grow longer and heavier wool.
4 citations
,
January 2010 in “Animal” Improving knowledge and practices in animal fibre production is crucial to meet market demands and potentially revive natural fibres.
6 citations
,
January 2016 in “Environmental footprints and eco-design of products and processes” The industry should promote pure luxury hair fibers, improve technology, and diversify products to support growers and ensure sustainable use.
5 citations
,
November 2022 in “Animal Genetics” Genomic research can help improve the quality and production of natural fibers in animals.
19 citations
,
April 2015 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” The research identified genes and pathways important for sheep wool growth and shedding.
23 citations
,
March 1989 in “The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice” Llamas often have skin issues like mange, bacterial infections, and allergies, with some treatable by zinc.
1 citations
,
May 2025 in “Animal Bioscience” Four genes affect hair follicle density in goats.
28 citations
,
January 2022 in “PLoS ONE” Sarcoptic mange nearly wiped out vicuñas and guanacos in an Argentine park.
7 citations
,
January 2010 in “Animal” Angora goat hair grows faster and produces more protein than cashmere goat hair, and certain hormones and nutrients positively affect hair growth and protein synthesis.
4 citations
,
July 2022 in “Scientific reports” Crossbreeding improves goat fiber quality, and specific genes affect hair traits and color.
Acidic sandy clay damages archaeological hair the most, while dry conditions preserve but make it brittle; silicone oil can help keep the hair flexible.
January 2025 in “Epsilon Archive for Student Projects (University of Southampton)” Mange and orf are present in some goat herds in Zambia, but more research is needed.
1 citations
,
January 2016 in “Acta histochemica” Black sheep have higher levels of Gnαs and Gnα11 proteins, which may affect their coat color.
1 citations
,
February 2023 in “All Life” The research identified proteins that change as goat hair follicles begin to form, helping to understand how cashmere grows.
13 citations
,
June 2024 in “BMC Genomics” The research helps understand hair development in sheep, aiding in better wool breeding.
4 citations
,
July 2024 in “Animals” The KRTAP19-5 gene affects wool curvature in Chinese Tan sheep, with Variant B reducing curvature.
13 citations
,
February 2019 in “Zoology” Lustre mutant sheep have normal hair structure and proteins but differ in felting properties.
January 2025 in “BMC Genomics” Long non-coding RNAs help regulate wool fineness in Gansu alpine fine-wool sheep.
1 citations
,
September 2023 in “Animals” A new goat gene affects cashmere fiber thickness; certain variations can make the fibers coarser.
46 citations
,
September 2010 in “Veterinary Dermatology” Many alpacas have skin diseases, with bacterial infections being the most common.
11 citations
,
November 2006 in “Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation” An alpaca acted like a male and couldn't have babies because of a benign tumor in its ovary that caused high testosterone levels.
19 citations
,
June 2007 in “Veterinary Dermatology” Amitraz effectively treated sarcoptic mange in three alpacas.
January 2026 in “Current Issues in Molecular Biology” miR-5110 affects alpaca pigmentation by altering specific gene expressions.
14 citations
,
June 2009 in “Journal of veterinary internal medicine” High doses of albendazole can be deadly for alpacas.