Abstract

The growth rates of mixed populations of hide bacteria and of pure strains of collagenolytic and non-collagenolytic bacteria have been determined to show the practical significance of high growth rates in delayed curing and in cured hides. Most of the hide bacteria studied have mean generation times of less than 4 h, which means that under exponential growth rate conditions these bacteria double their number in less than 4 h. This fact and the rate of collagen decomposition by the collagenolytic bacteria can have a significant effect in commercial curing.