COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF LEATHER RAW MATERIALS OF MEAT BREED OF STEERS IN CONDITIONS OF NORTHERN UKRAINE

Abstract

The paper presents results of studies of technological properties of leather raw materials of specialized meat breeds breeds of steers in the Northern Ukraine. Breed affiliation of steers affected the quality of leather raw materials. Thus, it has been determined that steers grown under the same conditions on the border of the Northern Forest-Steppe and Polesye of Ukraine, at the same level of feeding, of the same age and gender, but of different breeds, produced fells that differed in weight and quality. Fells of animals that belong to the Polesye meat, Southern meat, Charolais and Aberdeen-Angus breeds are classified as heavy. Differences are revealed in terms of area, thickness and chemical composition. In general, fells of steers of meat specialized breeds at the age of 18 months are raw materials with high technological properties. Accelerating development of specialized meat cattle breeding in Ukraine will not only increase production of high-quality beef, but will also reduce import of leather raw materials and accelerate revival of light industry in the country.