A method for preparing tannable pelts from animal skins or hides, said method effecting concurrent softening, dehairing, opening of the hide structure, and bating in a single procedural step, which method comprises treating said skins or hides, free of preserving salt, with an aqueous bath having a pH between about 9 and about 12 and having dissolved therein:A. an effective amount of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a fungus protease whose optimum efficacy towards casein is at a pH above 7.0, and which protease may be replaced in whole or in part by trypsin and/or papain and/or by a bacterial protease whose maximum efficacy lies at a pH from 6 to 9;B. an effective amount of a bacterial protease having an optimum efficacy against hemoglobin at a pH above 9; andC. an effective amount of a short-chained, primary or secondary aliphatic amine.