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.
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.
Acidic sandy clay damages archaeological hair the most, while dry conditions preserve but make it brittle; silicone oil can help keep the hair flexible.
7 citations
,
June 2017 in “Gene” Overexpression of FGF5s makes Chinese Merino sheep grow longer and heavier wool.
1 citations
,
April 2021 in “IntechOpen eBooks” The PCR technique can identify genetic differences in a wool-related gene among different sheep breeds, which may help improve wool and pelt quality.
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.
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.
46 citations
,
January 2009 in “Textile Research Journal” Researchers developed a new method to identify animal hair in textiles, which is effective for various fibers and more reliable than previous methods.
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.
19 citations
,
June 2007 in “Veterinary Dermatology” Amitraz effectively treated sarcoptic mange in three alpacas.
1 citations
,
January 2016 in “Asian-Australasian journal of animal sciences” The protein Gnαs is found more in black mice than white mice and may influence their coat color.
January 2025 in “Cellular and Molecular Biology” The PIP5K1A gene helps cashmere growth in goats by promoting cell proliferation, and melatonin boosts its expression.
February 2024 in “BMC genomics” The TRPV3 gene variant may cause the long-haired suri alpaca coat.
2 citations
,
May 2019 in “Small ruminant research” Mutations in specific llama genes may affect fiber quality for textiles.
5 citations
,
November 2022 in “Animal Genetics” Genomic research can help improve the quality and production of natural fibers in animals.
October 2025 in “Physiologia” Spermidine may improve skin health and hair growth by enhancing cell function.
65 citations
,
September 2014 in “BMC genomics” Different hair types in mammals are linked to variations in specific protein genes, with changes influenced by their living environments.
1 citations
,
October 2023 in “Animals” Certain DNA regions in alpacas are linked to fiber diameter.
28 citations
,
January 2022 in “PLoS ONE” Sarcoptic mange nearly wiped out vicuñas and guanacos in an Argentine park.
A mange outbreak nearly wiped out vicuña and guanaco populations in San Guillermo National Park.
Androgenetic alopecia is common in younger adults, especially with a family history.
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.
19 citations
,
January 2023 in “Genes” Certain genes influence wool, growth, and reproduction traits in Uruguayan Merino sheep.
December 2024 in “Veterinary Sciences” Key genes and pathways improve wool quality in Zhexi Angora rabbits.
1 citations
,
March 2013 in “Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Perú” Benzalkonium chloride effectively treats skin fungus in guinea pigs.
7 citations
,
February 2025 in “Mammalian Genome” April 2024 in “UNESP Institutional Repository (São Paulo State University)” Alpaca skin has glands, hair follicles, and different collagen types.
January 2026 in “Frontiers in Animal Science” Gentile di Puglia sheep have finer wool and more lanolin than Sarda sheep.
8 citations
,
May 2004 in “Textile Research Journal” Scientists made antibodies to tell cashmere and wool apart, which could improve how we identify animal fibers.