In this work bovine hides were treated with 25, 35 and 50 kGy in a Gamma Chamber 5000 self-shielded research irradiator and the influence of radiation dose on hide microbiological load, collagen crosslinking, interfibrillary substances solubility by shrinkage temperature and soluble nitrogen was evaluated in comparison with crude hide and sodium chloride treated hides (raw hides). Pilot level experiments were performed on large hide quantities in a SVST-Co-60/B Multipurpose Gamma Industrial Irradiator at 25 kGy as well as on semi processed leathers e.g. wet-blue, split wet-blue and crust. The evaluation of shrinkage temperature, microbiological load and physico-chemical and mechanical characteristics of gamma irradiated leathers showed that small modifications are induced by 25 kGy gamma irradiation. The scanning electron microscopy images of leather cross sections and Fourier Transform Infrared spectra confirmed minimum structural modifications at molecular level and not at microscopic level. Gamma irradiation allows conservation of high quantities of hides and leathers with impact on final product quality improvement, substantial infection reduction in abattoirs, raw material warehouses or tanneries shops, reduction of total dissolved solids by 40% and of chloride concentration by 78% from wastewaters.