Investigation of Major Factors That Cause Skin and Hide Rejection in Ethiopia: The Case of Tanneries in Addis Ababa and Modjo Towns

Abstract

A study was conducted from May 2013 to September 2013 with the objective of identifying the major causes of skin and hide rejection on wet blue skins and hides in AA and Modjo tanneries. A total of 769 rejected skins and hides out of which 272 wet blue sheep skins, 275 goat wet blue skins and 222 cattle hides were examined for the major defects that cause rejection. For sheep skins ekek 110(40.3%), scratch 54(19.9%), wound 54(19.4%), scar 23(8.3%), flay cut, machine defect, and pox each 11(4.2% and putrefaction4(1.4%)) were major causes of sheep skin rejection.. In goats skin, scratch 95(34.7%) was the dominant cause of rejection followed by scar 62(22.7%), ekek 49(18.1%),, flying defect 22(8%) and pox14(5.3%). In cattle hide, putrefaction 98(44.2%), flying cuts 58(26.2%), ekek 33(14.8%),Scratch 20(9%), branding 6(2.5%)were major causes of hide rejection. In sheep skin diseases such as Ekek and scratch caused high rejection of skin and entailed serious economic loss in terms of foreign exchange earning to Ethiopia. Therefore, this main cause of sheep skin rejection and factors that cause rejections should be controlled. where as in goat skins serious issue is scratch responsible for rejection. This study revealed that ekek, scratch, wound and scar, putrefaction and flay cuts were major causes of skin and hide rejection and this suggests out of six major defects four (67%) are pre-slaughter defects and there need to be integrated efforts towards improved livestock extension and husbandry and better health care which are vital issues for production of better quality hide and skin.