Characterization and identification of cashmere in goats in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, approximately 8 million goats are used mainly for milk and meat production, and 91% of this amount is located in the Northeast of the country. However, the use of animals for the production of textile fibers has not yet been carried out. This study is the first record of cashmere in goats born in that region, through morphological and physical characterization of the fiber. Such a discovery was not expected since cashmere is commonly found in animals predominantly living in countries with cold and mild temperatures. The identification of cashmere from animals born in semi-arid climate is of great importance for both the textile industry and also for the Brazilian producers. Five herds of goats of Saanen and Savannah breeds were investigated, totaling 150 animals. Combing during the month of June 2015 (winter) provided the fiber samples. Samples were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy to properly characterize the fiber (to check the absence of medulla, fiber thickness and other physical properties), and software IMAGEJ was used to obtain the mean fiber diameter. The cashmere found for the two breeds had a mean diameter of 11.00 ± 0.2 µm and a 16% coefficient of variation with characteristics consistent with cashmere according to the Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute.