The efficiency of boric acid as an alternate to NaCl for the preservation of cattle hides.

The fresh buffalo hides (n = 6) were cut into two equal parts and categorized into three equal groups. The first group was treated with 50% NaCl; the second group hides were treated with 5% of boric acid (BA), and the third group hides were with NaCl + BA (10:1). Hair loss was seen at the sample margins of hides treated with 50% NaCl, with a slight odor. In the second group, there was neither hair loss nor a pungent smell was felt. The nitrogen content of the preserved hide was measured at different durations during the experimental period, i.e., 0 h, 24 h on day 7th, and day 14th. The nitrogen level reduced significantly (P < 0.05) from 0 h to day 14th of the experiment in hides treated with 50% of NaCl and 5% of boric acid, while this trend was found non-significant (P > 0.05) in hides treated with the combination of NaCl + BA. At 0 h, the moisture content for 50% of NaCl-treated hides was 64.82 ± 0.38% moisture content for 5% of boric acid was 63.89 ± 0.59, while for the NaCl + BA combination 61.69 ± 1.09 was observed. Moisture content for 50% of NaCl on day 14th was 38.87 ± 0.42; for boric acid, it was 37.76 ± 1.12, and for the combination of both, the moisture content was 34.56 ± 0.41%. A similar decreasing trend of moisture contents was found in hides treated with different preservatives. After 14 days of treatment, the bacterial count for 50% of NaCl was 2 × 109; for boric acid, it was 1 × 109, and for the combination of both, the bacterial count was 3 × 109. The lowest pollution load was observed hides treated with the combination of NaCl + BA (10:1). Total solids (TS) were 21.69 ± 0.57 while total dissolved solids (TDS) were 21.10 ± 0.57, and total suspended solids were 0.60 ± 0.57 mg/l. It is concluded from the present study that boric acid alone or in combination with NaCl efficiently reduced nitrogen content and bacterial count and can reduce water pollution in tannery and hence could be used as a preservative for the hide in the tannery industry.