FINE HAIR ON AMERICAN BOVINE LEATHERS

The study addressed the issue of fine hair on American bovine leathers, which was a significant challenge during colder months, affecting leather quality and market value. It focused on Black Angus hides, identifying club and papillary hairs as contributors to the problem. The research found that these hairs, particularly papillary hairs, were difficult to remove and led to downgrading of leather, reducing its selling price by 10-20%, and up to 60% for nubuk leathers. The study compared sulfide and oxidative unhairing methods, noting that mechanical action in tanneries was crucial for hair removal. It concluded that the fine hair problem was complex and not fully solvable, but recommended measures such as proper soaking, mechanical action, and seasonal processing adjustments to mitigate the issue.