HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHE IICAL STUDIES ON BALADI GOAT SKIN DURING DIFFERENT SEASONS OF THE YEAR

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of different climatic conditions of different seasons on the morphology and chemical composition, as well biology and growth activity of the different components of the Egyptian Baladi goat skin. The goat adaptation to the surrounding environments might be expected through its physiological responses in the different seasons.

The study was carried out on twenty Baladi does raised at Mariout research station about 35 kilometers southwest of Alexandria. Four groups of skin and hair samples were taken representing spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons.

The hair samples were taken from six body positions of goats, (shoulder, mid-side, britch, withers, back and hip). They were classified into coat types; fibre types and different fibre measurements. The skin samples were taken from the mid-side region and skin components were evaluated by histological and histochemical methods during the different seasons of the year.

The histological and histochemical techniques used

Haematoxylin and Eosin, periodic acid Schiff, Alcian