THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN FACTORS ON LEATHER QUALITY AND YIEL D IN OSTRICH

The aim of study was to determine the effects of slaughter age and gender of ostrich on technological skin and leather quality parameters. Animal material of study was 30 ostrich (15 male and 15 female), hatched at the some week. When birds reached 9, 12 and 14 month of age, five birds from each gender were slaughtered. Skin weights of ostrich slaughtered at 9, 12 and 14 month were 4.95 kg, 6.56 kg and 7.60 kg, respectively (P<0.001). Skin weights of male birds were higher that those of female birds (P<0.01). Increases in skin and leather area were observed with increasing slaughter age. Leather areas of birds slaughtered at 9, 12 and 14 month were 102.5 dm2 , 135.5 dm2 and 150.5 dm , respectively. Leather areas of male birds were 12.4 dm higher than those of female birds. Chemical leather properties such as extractable fatty substance, chromium oxide content, total ash proportion and pH value, physical leather properties such as tensile strength, tear strength, stitch tear strength and lastometer values obtained in the current study were similar with the levels of UNIDO. In a conclusion, ostrich skins might be suitable to be used for production of garment and shoe leathers.