Utilisation of waste skin pieces
| Project start date: | 01 January 1990 |
| Project end date: | 01 July 1992 |
| Publication date: | 01 July 1992 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Sheep |
| Relevant regions: | National |
Summary
The wool on the headpieces removed during the yearly slaughter of 30 million Australian sheep is worth over $7 million. However, headpieces and other sheepskin trimmings are often buried because processes used for wool recovery in the past are no longer economically viable.
A machine to recover loosened wool from waste sheepskin pieces has been designed and constructed to the protype stage and a patent application will be lodged during commercialisation of the machine. A wool loosening process based on the acetate fellmongering process has been developed. This involves modifications to both the chemical treatment and the handling regime using this new machinery.
This project tested the effectiveness of these new processes.
Objectives
The objective of this project was to develop improved ways to recover wool and other products, including tallow and meat meal, from sheep and lambskin head and brisket pieces, trimmings and damaged skins.
Key findings
Multiple techniques for the loosening of wool were examined including pre-shredding machines, skin digestion, enzymic weakening of wool, wool loosening and the newly developed wool recovery machine were examined for their effectiveness at removing wool from waste skin pieces.
It was shown that the wool recovery machine and a acetate wool loosening protocol were the two most effective methods trialled at removing wool.
Benefits to industry
The wool on sheep skin waste pieces is worth over $7 million annually to the Australian processing industry however it is often forgone due to the complicated process required to recover its value. This project examined a novel piece of technology that had the potential to simplify the process of recovery, allowing this value to be more easily realised and thereby increasing the value of the whole lamb carcase.
Future research
The new wool recovery system should be rigorously compared to an existing New Zealand produced wool removal machine, the Slipemaster. Following this comparison, a cost benefit analysis should be done for both machines. If the cost benefit analysis does not favour the new system over the Slipemaster at current wool process, there should be a re-assessment when wool prices improve.
Related MLA projects
A.BIT.0011
More information
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | CSIRO |
