The effects of the method and dose of cyclophosphamide administration on cashmere shedding

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the method and dose of cyclophosphamide (CPA) administration on cashmere shedding. Thirty-two castrated Liaoning cashmere goats were randomly allotted to four groups, with eight replicates in each group. Goats in the four groups were injected intravenously or intramuscularly with CPA at doses of 20 or 25 mg kg−1 body weight (BW), respectively. Feed intake and BW were recorded, and erythrocyte count, hemoglobin content, and cashmere weight were determined. It was found that the CPA administration method had no significant effect on feed intake or BW of cashmere goats. Cyclophosphamide injection can significantly decrease the erythrocyte count and hemoglobin content of cashmere goats, but the effects are dependent on injection method and CPA dose. The injection method and dose did not significantly influence cashmere weight, but the method had significant effects on time to initiate shedding and regrown hair length. Regrown hair was longest by intramuscular injection with 20 mg kg−1 BW, which also caused the least erythema on the epidermis during the days after shedding. The results indicate that the CPA administration method can significantly influence cashmere shedding. Intramuscular injection of CPA at a dose of 20 mg kg−1 BW was found to be relatively beneficial for hair removal and regrowth in cashmere goats.