Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall goal of the proposed research is to establish a pilot tannery at LU to study effects of breed, diet and age on leather quality. Specific objectives include: 1) Establish a pilot tannery and capability for goat leather research at the LU campus; 2) Determine the effects of goat breed, diet and age upon skin chemical composition and the mechanical properties of resulting leather; and 3) Evaluate environmentally friendly tanning methods on U.S. goat skins. The equipment for the pilot tannery was installed in the facility and tested. The chemicals needed to tan goat skins were ordered and arrived. Solutions were found for effluent handling and put in place. Arrangements were made for a consultant on leather production to travel to LU in September 2010 to train Dr. Merkel in the tanning process. The protocol for the animal experiment was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Langston University. Spanish and Boer wethers for the trial were selected in December 2009. The baseline animal harvest occurred in January 2010. The animal portion of the experiment lasted through September 1, 2010. The conduct of the experiment entailed taking bi-weekly animal weights and body condition scores. FAMACHA scoring was done at the time of weighing for an indication of internal parasite load and appropriate health care administered when needed. Feedstuffs were sampled monthly, dried in an oven and ground in a Wiley mill through a 2 mm screen. Laboratory analyses were completed. Animal harvests occurred in January, May, and August/September. One-half of each skin was sent to a commercial tannery for chrome tanning and the other was salted for tanning in the pilot tannery. Chrome tanning has been completed. The PI completed tanning skins in the pilot tannery and the resulting leather was sent to the USDA ARS ERRC in Wyndmoor, PA for evaluation. Results have been analyzed and a research manuscript written. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Roger Merkel, Project Director, American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University; Dr. Cheng Kung Liu, USDA ARS Collaborator, Materials Research Engineer, USDA ARS Eastern Regional Research Center, Fats, Oils and Animal Coproducts Research Unit, Wyndmoor, PA. TARGET AUDIENCES: Primary target audiences include the scientific community, other universities and centers that may wish to conduct future collaborative research and tanneries/leather manufacturers. Meat goat producers and extension personnel may be interested in the information as well. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A 1-year no-cost extension was requested and granted in 2011.
Impacts
The project goal was to evaluate leather produced from U.S. goats using more environmentally-friendly processes than traditional chrome tanning. Results provided information on breed, diet and age as they affect leather as well as a comparison of chrome and synthetic tannage methods with goat skins. The leather industry could use the results in creating tanning protocols. The goat industry could use information derived from the research to develop goat leather products that could increase the value of U.S. goat skins in the world marketplace and further establish a local goat leather industry.
Publications
- Merkel, R., C.K. Liu, N. Latona, A. El A'mma, and A. Goetsch. 2012. Effects of level and length of supplementation on leather characteristics of yearling Boer and Spanish wethers. Book of Abstracts, XI International Conference on Goats, Gran Canaria, Spain, 23-27 September 2012. pp.250.
- Merkel, R., C.K. Liu, N. Latona, A. El A'mma, and A. Goetsch. 2012. Introduction to the American Institute for Goat Research of Langston University and Beginning Research on Goat Skins Annual Meeting of the American Leather Chemists Association. Greenville, N.C., June 7-10, 2012.
- Merkel, R., T. Gipson, Z. Wang and A. Goetsch. 2012. Effects of level and length of supplementation on BW and harvest characteristics of yearling Boer and Spanish wethers. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 90, Suppl. 3/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 95, Suppl. 2 pp. 137.
- Merkel, R., C.K. Liu, N. Latona, A. El A'mma, and A. Goetsch. 2012. Effects of level and length of supplementation on leather characteristics of yearling Boer and Spanish wethers. J. Am. Leather Chem. Assoc. (submitted).
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall goal of the proposed research is to establish a pilot tannery at LU to study effects of breed, diet and age on leather quality. Specific objectives include: 1) Establish a pilot tannery and capability for goat leather research at the LU campus; 2) Determine the effects of goat breed, diet and age upon skin chemical composition and the mechanical properties of resulting leather; and 3) Evaluate environmentally friendly tanning methods on U.S. goat skins. The equipment for the pilot tannery was installed in the facility and tested. The chemicals needed to tan goat skins were ordered and arrived. Solutions were found for effluent handling and put in place. Arrangements were made for a consultant on leather production to travel to LU in September 2010 to train Dr. Merkel in the tanning process. The protocol for the animal experiment was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Langston University. Spanish and Boer wethers for the trial were selected in December 2009. The baseline animal harvest occurred in January 2010. The animal portion of the experiment lasted through September 1, 2010. The conduct of the experiment entailed taking bi-weekly animal weights and body condition scores. FAMACHA scoring was done at the time of weighing for an indication of internal parasite load and appropriate health care administered when needed. Feedstuffs were sampled monthly, dried in an oven and ground in a Wiley mill through a 2 mm screen. Laboratory analyses on the ground samples are being completed. Animal harvests occurred in January, May, and August/September. One-half of each skin was sent to a commercial tannery for chrome tanning and the other was salted for tanning in the pilot tannery. Commercially tanned skins from all harvests are done. The PI is currently conducting trial runs on goat skins to test the tanning protocol. Experimental skins will be tanned beginning in October 2011. Other tissue samples from the animal harvests were frozen for later lyophilization and analysis. The PI continues to study leather tanning through a course on leather production given by the American Leather Chemists Association as stipulated in the grant document. The PI has continuing hand-tanning goat hides to gain further experience in working with tanning fundamentals. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Roger Merkel, Project Director, American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University. Dr. Cheng Kung Liu, USDA ARS Collaborator, Materials Research Engineer, USDA ARS Eastern Regional Research Center; Fats, Oils and Animal Coproducts Research Unit; Wyndmoor, PA. TARGET AUDIENCES: Primary target audiences include the scientific community, other universities and centers that may wish to conduct future collaborative research and tanneries/leather manufacturers. Meat goat producers and extension personnel may be interested in the information as well. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A 1-year no-cost extension was requested and granted.
Impacts
The project goal is to evaluate leather produced from U.S. goats using more environmentally-friendly processes than traditional chrome tanning. Results will provide information on breed, diet and age as they affect leather and indicate future research areas. The goat industry could use information derived from the proposed research to develop a "brand" or type of leather that could increase the value of U.S. goat skins in the world marketplace and further establish a local goat leather industry.
Publications
- An abstract entitled "Variability among enumerators in assigning Body Condition Scores in meat goats" was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science in July 2011.
- Merkel, R.C. and T.A. Gipson. 2011. Variability among enumerators in assigning Body Condition Scores in meat goats. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 89, E-Suppl. 1 pp. 403.
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall goal of the proposed research is to establish a pilot tannery at LU to study effects of breed, diet and age on leather quality. Specific objectives include: 1) Establish a pilot tannery and capability for goat leather research at the LU campus; 2) Determine the effects of goat breed, diet and age upon skin chemical composition and the mechanical properties of resulting leather; and 3) Evaluate environmentally friendly tanning methods on U.S. goat skins. The equipment for the pilot tannery was installed in the facility and tested. The chemicals needed to tan goat skins were ordered and arrived. Solutions were found for effluent handling and put in place. Arrangements were made for a consultant on leather production to travel to LU in September 2010 to train Dr. Merkel in the tanning process. The protocol for the animal experiment was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Langston University. Spanish and Boer wethers for the trial were selected in December 2009. The baseline animal harvest occurred in January 2010. The animal portion of the experiment lasted through September 1, 2010. The conduct of the experiment entailed taking bi-weekly animal weights and body condition scores. FAMACHA scoring was done at the time of weighing for an indication of internal parasite load and appropriate health care administered when needed. Feedstuffs were sampled monthly, dried in an oven and ground in a Wiley mill through a 2 mm screen. The ground samples are awaiting laboratory analysis. Animal harvests occurred in January, May, and August/September. One-half of each skin was sent to a commercial tannery for chrome tanning and the other was salted for tanning in the pilot tannery. Commercially tanned skins from the first two harvests are done. Skins from the final harvest are being processed. Other tissue samples from the animal harvests were frozen for later lyophilization and analysis. The PI continues to study leather tanning through a course on leather production given by the American Leather Chemists Association as stipulated in the grant document. The PI has continuing hand-tanning goat hides to gain further experience in working with tanning fundamentals. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Roger Merkel, Project Director, American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University Dr. Cheng Kung Liu, USDA ARS Collaborator, Materials Research Engineer, USDA ARS Eastern Regional Research Center; Fats, Oils and Animal Coproducts Research Unit; Wyndmoor, PA. TARGET AUDIENCES: Primary target audiences include the scientific community, other universities and centers that may wish to conduct future collaborative research and tanneries/leather manufacturers. Meat goat producers and extension personnel may be interested in the information as well. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The project goal is to evaluate leather produced from U.S. goats using more environmentally-friendly processes than traditional chrome tanning. Results will provide information on breed, diet and age as they affect leather and indicate future research areas. The goat industry could use information derived from the proposed research to develop a "brand" or type of leather that could increase the value of U.S. goat skins in the world marketplace and further establish a local goat leather industry.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall goal of the proposed research is to establish a pilot tannery at LU to study effects of breed, diet and age on leather quality. Specific objectives include: 1) Establish a pilot tannery and capability for goat leather research at the LU campus; 2) Determine the effects of goat breed, diet and age upon skin chemical composition and the mechanical properties of resulting leather; and 3) Evaluate environmentally friendly tanning methods on U.S. goat skins. The equipment needed to tan goat skins has been purchased and delivered to Langston University. Sources of tanning chemicals and formulas have been identified and contacted. The PI has enrolled in a course on leather production given by the American Leather Chemists Association as stipulated in the grant document. The PI has hand-tanned some goat hides to gain further experience in working with tanning fundamentals. A detailed experimental protocol was developed and approved by co-investigators and is being reviewed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Langston University. Experimental animals have been identified and the animal portion of the trial will begin in late fall 2009. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Roger Merkel, Project Director, American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University. Dr. Cheng Kung Liu, USDA ARS Collaborator, Materials Research Engineer, USDA ARS Eastern Regional Research Center; Fats, Oils and Animal Coproducts Research Unit; Wyndmoor, PA. TARGET AUDIENCES: Primary target audiences include the scientific community, other universities and centers that may wish to conduct future collaborative research and tanneries/leather manufacturers. Meat goat producers and extension personnel may be interested in the information as well. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The project goal is to evaluate leather produced from U.S. goats using more environmentally-friendly processes than traditional chrome tanning. Results will provide information on breed, diet and age as they affect leather and indicate future research areas. The goat industry could use information derived from the proposed research to develop a "brand" or type of leather that could increase the value of U.S. goat skins in the world marketplace and further establish a local goat leather industry.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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