I have a question, or lots of questions. The trouble is, I don't know, what I don't know, so I don't know what questions to ask.

Best I start at the beginning.

I have an acquaintance who owns a farm, which produces exotic meats for the restaurant trade. Not endangered, but exotic and rare in this country. No primates, no reptiles, no turtles, no cuddly animals - just bovine, ovine and porcine. That is to say cows, sheep and pigs.

He and all his staff and the premises are licensed and inspected on a monthly basis. The animals get regular veterinary attention, whether they need it or not. They live out of doors, but have adequate shelter from the weather if they choose. They even have 'toys' to play with. The cows seem to like the big 'footballs'.

The animals have a good life, but they are part of the food chain and most will not live to die of old age.

He has his own abattoir and butchery department on site. One of the by-products is the skins or pelts or furs (my lack of knowledge creeping in here). Each skin is sealed in a plastic bag and frozen. Once a month, someone comes from 'way up north' to take then away. He pays for them, but not a lot - just enough to cover the storage costs.

I have been offered these skins in a totally untreated condition. They are just as they were taken off the dead carcase.

Now we come to the questions.

Would it be feasible for me, on my own, to tan (cure) (I don't even know the right words) them myself? Can it be done with very little cash investment? Are there major pitfalls that I should know before even thinking about this?

I keep thinking of all these hunter gatherers. They managed it without sophisticated equipment, so why can't I?

Any thoughts, warnings, dire predictions?

Regards

Chas