The KAP20 family has been described in humans [24]. It consists of two members, KAP20-1 and KAP20-2, and the genes producing these KAPs are expressed in the matrix and pre-cortex of developing hair fibres [25]. In this study, we describe the identification of a caprine KAP20 gene, and reveal variation in that gene using polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformational polymorphism(PCR-SSCP). We also confirm the expression of this gene using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR),and investigate associations between variation in the gene and variation in cashmere traits in Longdongcashmere goats.