Physical Characteristics of Raw Leathers in Texel and Charollais Ram Lambs

Abstract

The objective of work was to evaluate effect of breed on basic physical characteristics of sheep leather. A total of 12 leathers of purebred Texel (n = 6) and Charollais (n = 6) lambs were included in the trial. The basic indicators of the physical analysis of leather quality: leather thickness (LT, mm), tensile strength endwise (TSE, N/mm2) and across (TSA; N/mm2) as well as maximal elongation endwise (MEE; %) and across (MEA; %) were assessed. The statistical analysis was performed by SAS 9.3 (SAS/STAT® 9.3., 2011) with the used MIXED procedure. All the physical parameters were higher in Charollais breed compared to Texel, except of MEA. More specifically LT and TSE were non-significatnly higher +0.03 mm and +3.03 N/mm2 in Charollais breed. Statistically significantly higher difference TSA and MEE (+3.31 N/mm2; P < 0.01 and +7.22%; P < 0.01) were also observed in Charollais breed compared to Texel. On the other hand there was also noticed a lower MEA (−7.17%; P > 0.05) in Charollais breed.

Keywords

• leather thickness
• tensile strength
• maximal elongation