Abstract

The effect of decreasing the amount of protein in blue-fox feed on the physical characteristics of skin was studied with three dietary protein levels of 15 %, 22.5 % and 30 % of metabolizable energy due to protein. The effect of methionine as a supplement was also studied. The skins were first aluminium tanned and then the physical properties, the thickness, breaking load, tensile strength and elongation at break were measured and analysed. Analyses showed that the decrease in the amount of protein in feed has a detectable influence on physical properties, the thickness, breaking load and tensile strength have a tendency to decrease. The elongation at break was clearly dependent on the sample cutting angle.