Comparisons of Physical Characteristics of Crossbred Boer Goat Fur Skin Tanned by Coffee Pomace and Gros Michel Banana Bunch

The current study was conducted to compare the physical characteristics and quality of fur skin of male crossbred Boer goat using different tanning formulas (coffee pomace and Gros Michel banana bunch). Crossbred Boer goat aged approximately 8 months old and weighed approximately 25kg were used in the study. Sixteen skin sheets prepared by cutting raw skin into a size of 21×29.7 cm2 were divided into 2 treatments, 8 sheets each. The first group was tanned using coffee pomace formula and the second group was tanned using Gros Michel banana bunch formula. The raw skin weights of the first group and second group before tanning were 198.25±8.66g and 197.72±7.64g, respectively. Tanned fur skin were then compared for physical characteristics, including skin color, total hair density, percentage of coarse hair, percentage of fine hair, and skin thickness, both before and after tanning process and between the tanning formulas. The results showed that the color of goat skin before tanning with Gros Michel banana bunch and coffee pomace formula was not significantly different (P>0.05). While after tanning with coffee pomace, the skin was darker than those tanned with Gros Michel banana bunch, although hair color of both groups were not altered (P>0.05). The thickness of the tanned skin using Gros Michel banana bunch and coffee pomace formula was not significantly different (P>0.05). Fine hair density and coarse hair density of both groups before soaking in Gros Michel banana bunch and coffee pomace formula were not significantly different (P>0.05). However, after tanning with both formula, it was found that density of fine and coarse hairs of both groups were less than initial hairs (P<0.05). In conclusion, coffee pomace and Gros Michel banana bunch can be used as agent in tanning process to conserve the goat hair.