FIRST ASSESSEMENT OF THE DOUBLE COATED PRODUCED BY GOATS RAISED IN BRAZIL

Abstract Brazilian Goats have double hair coat composed of two fibres, coarse guard hair and fibre fine. The objective was to characterize the fibres and check if the fine fibre meets the standards for cashmere. We collected samples in Saanen, Alpine and Crossbreed goats. The analysis in scanning electron microscopy revealed that these individuals had fibre fine with an average diameter of 10.63 μm and coefficient of variation of 17.39 %, which is within the diameter range to be considered cashmere. The fibre fine had frequency scale of 7.57/100 μm and thickness of scale 383 nm. The results led to the recognition of cashmere fibres in goats born and raised in Brazil.