Effect of Light Controlling and Ventilation Design on Cashmere Growth and Ammonia Concentration of Cashmere Goat

This research was conducted to investigate the effect of light controlling and ventilation design on cashmere growth and ammonia concentration of cashmere goat,which would provide theoretical basis for high efficient and ecological feeding of cashmere goat during the cashmere non-growing period.A total of 56 non-pregnant Shaanbei White cashmere goat with similar age,weight and parity were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups.Group I was received natural light,group Ⅱ was received controlling (illumination at 09:30 to 16:30,and light control at 16:30 to 09:30 of next day),and group Ⅲ was received same light condition except for additional 15% concentrate feed supplemented.Different ventilation schemes of goat house under the light-controlled condition were set and cashmere wool growth traits and barn NH₃ concentrations were determined.The results showed that illumination condition had no significant effects on body weight of Shaanbei White cashmere goat (P>0.05),but average daily gain of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲwere slightly higher than group Ⅰ.Compared with group Ⅰ,the fluff mixtures weight of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01),the fluff ratio were significantly increased (P<0.05),and the weight of cashmere wool,which were increased by 68.40% and 78.78%,respectively,were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).Less illumination resulted in longer cashmere fiber stretched length,while it caused an increasing fiber fineness of cashmere by increasing illumination.No significant differences were observed between groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P>0.05).Under light-controlled conditions,using four mechanical ventilators during non-light controlled time (09:30 to 16:30) could significantly reduce the concentration of NH₃ (P<0.05).The results indicated that light controlling could increase cashmere production during the cashmere non-growing period of cashmere goat,however,less nutrients intake should be done to prevent the increasing of fiber diameter.Proper ventilation and clearance rate should be considered to keep air quality and goat health according to feeding density and house space.