Division of Temperate Animal Husbandry, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar-Kumaon, District: Nainital, Uttaranchal-263 138 India.
The performance of Pashmina goats (Chegu, Changthangi, Chegu x Changthangi and Chegu x local) reared at Mukteswar (2100m MSL) was studied in terms of annual yield, length and diameter of Pashmina fibres over a period of 5 years (2000 to 2004). The average annual yield of Pashmina was 101.77±2.89 (n-367) g/goat. The average length (cm) and diameter (um) of Pashmina fibres were 5.98±0.03cm (n-292) and 12.88±0.54um (n-292), respectively. The yield of Pashmina linearly increased with the age of the goats. There was non significant (P<0.10) increase in average annual yield (g/goat) of Pashmina in males (116.96±9.00 (n-68) compared to females (98.32±2.86 (n-299). The length and diameter of the Pashmina fibres were higher in the goats which yielded more quantity (g/goat) of Pashmina. The quality and quantity of Pashmina obtained from goats reared at Mukteswar (2100m MSL) during present period of study was found to be poorer than obtained from goats reared during 1990s.
