Histological studies on the hair follicle and skin of chegu goat

Skin samples were collected from right and left paralumbar flank areas of seven apparently healthy Chegu goats. Thickness of skin ranged from 2.2 to 3.5 mm with mean of 2.84±0.37 mm. The overall thickness of the epidermis ranged from 12 to 26 μm with a mean of 21.47±6.07 μm. The dermis of the skin consists of dense irregular connective tissue which consists mainly of collagen fibre embedded in the ground substance. Sebacious gland, sweat glands and arrector pili muscle were found along the hair follicle. Loose connective tissue layer were found below the papillary layer conform the contour of the stratum basale. The sweat gland opened into the neck of follicle just above the sebaceous gland. Two types of hair follicles (primary and secondary) were found in the skin of Chegu goat. The primary follicles were associated with sweat gland, arrector pili muscle and a sac like sebaceous gland. The secondary follicles were devoid of the associated structures. The average follicle density was 30.66±9.68 follicle/mm and the secondary follicle/primary follicle ratio was 18.9.