Abstract

The introduction of stringent effluent regulations is encouraging a change from traditional curing methods to the processing of fresh hides. The question then arises as to the quality of the leather and the area yield obtainable from fresh hides compared with salted. This comparison was made in three separate trials using 100 fresh and 100 wet salted hides in each trial. Data such as weight, thickness and area of the raw hides was recorded. A proportion of the hides were examined at stages through the processing, and the final leathers were subjected to physical tests. Apart from a slightly coarser break in the leathers produced from the fresh hides, no consistent differences in handle or physical properties relating to the curing methods could be found in the leathers. When the yield of leather was estimated on a weight basis either tail or green fleshed weight, no statistically significant difference in yield was found between the two curing methods. As the raw hides of the same weight differed considerably in area and thickness, a more precise basis for calculation of yield is one based on area. This was calculated for 50 hides in each of the three packs. Overall no statistically significant difference in yield was found relating to the curing methods. From this work we have concluded that there is no consistent difference between fresh and salted hides with regard to the yield and quality of leather produced from them.