Seasonal changes in systemic hormone profiles and their relationship to patterns of fibre growth and moulting in goats of contrasting genotypes

Abstract

In a 2 x 2 factorial experiment, seasonal changes in hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) profiles were compared in goats of two genotypes (Siberian (S) and Icelandic x Scottish feral (IF); n = 20 per genotype) with differing patterns of secondary fibre growth. Half of the goats of each genotype were fed rations containing either 100 or 180 g crude protein (CP)/kg dry matter. The period of secondary fibre growth was longer and the rate of growth greater in S than IF goats, but there were no effects of dietary protein concentration. Mean plasma concentrations of insulin, cortisol, T3 and T4 were higher in winter and those of prolactin, GH and IGF-1 concentrations were higher in summer. Growth of secondary fibre in S goats between January and March was associated with higher plasma prolactin and lower plasma insulin concentrations at this time than in IF goats in which there was no secondary fibre growth. The observed genotypic differences in times of onset and cessation of fibre growth were not associated with differences in the times of seasonal changes in any of the other hormones measured, and there was no effect of dietary protein level on hormone profiles. The higher mean growth rate and greater diameter of secondary fibre in S goats was associated with higher mean concentrations of T4 than in IF goats, throughout the study. Four S goats which exhibited secondary fibre growth during the summer had higher (P < 0.05) mean plasma insulin concentrations than other animals of that genotype. It is suggested that genotypic differences in prolactin concentrations in late winter/spring may affect the time of onset of secondary fibre growth and that the cessation of growth may be influenced by differences in the timing of the seasonal decline of circulating prolactin concentrations to basal levels. However, the maintenance of relatively high plasma insulin concentrations may prolong growth in some circumstances. The higher concentrations of T4 in S than IF goats may have a role in the enhancement of the rate of fibre growth in these animals. The onset of moult in both genotypes was associated with the spring increase in plasma prolactin concentrations.