Growth and Cashmere Production by Goats in Relation to Dietary Protein Supply

A trial was conducted to investigate the potential of the progeny of feral goats x selected, cashmere producing, bucks to utilize high levels of supplementary protein in order to increase cashmere yield. A basal diet (approx. 10 per cent crude protein (CP) and 12 MJ metabolisable energy (ME)) was fed on its own or supplemented in the following ways: urea (1.5 per cent), fishmeal (5, 10 and 15 per cent) or lupin seed (30 per cent). There were responses in growth rates and total fibre production with increasing levels of protein supplementation. However there was no increase in the amount of cashmere fibre produced in response to increased protein availability. It was concluded that cashmere production is probably strongly controlled by genotype or otherwise limited by a nutritional factor other than the amino acids provided by the protein supplements.