Differentiating Fine Hairs from Wild and Domestic Species: Investigations of Shatoosh,Yangir,and Cashmere Fibers

The fine undercoat fibers removed from wild goats hunted for meat and trophy, principally belonging to subspecies of Capra ibex, are used as an alternative to Shatoosh, the hair of the endangered Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii). Although currently legal, the large-scale use of these fibers (known as "Yangir"), and hybridization of ibex with domestic goats to improve fiber fineness and yield, would severely threaten the conservation of wild ibex. A SEM investigation shows morphological differences in the cuticle cell patterns of fine fibers from the domestic Cashmere goat, the wild Yangir goat, and the Tibetan antelope. A study of the DSC traces reveals differences in the enthalpy of denaturation of the crystallites. This information enables identification of these fibers, including those from lots submitted to dehairing processes, such as are commonly found in the animal fiber trade.