The Techniques of Hides and Skins Preservation -A Technical Manual

This document outlines the significant livestock resources of Ethiopia, which include one of the largest populations in Africa, notably ranking first in cattle. Despite this vast potential for producing hides and skins as essential raw materials for the leather industry, the actual recovery rate is low due to factors like local consumption and illegal trade. A key hindrance to producing quality leather is the improper preservation of hides and skins after slaughter and before tanning. Preservation is a critical treatment intended to protect these materials from bacterial putrefaction by reducing moisture content, thereby maintaining their quality until processing. However, it cannot improve the original quality of a hide. This technical manual provides a comprehensive and practical guide to the fundamental principles and modern practices of raw hide and skin preservation. The immediate and effective preservation of freshly flayed hides is a critical first step in the leather supply chain, directly determining the quality, value, and usability of the final leather product. It addresses the urgent need to prevent bacterial degradation, enzymatic attack, and putrefaction that begin immediately after slaughter. The manual systematically details the primary preservation methods, including salting (wet-salting and brine curing), drying, and the use of antiseptics. It provides step-by-step instructions, best practices for handling, folding, and grading, and emphasizes the importance of hygiene and infrastructure. Therefore, the objective of this technical manual is to provide key notes on proper preservation techniques to help stakeholders prevent deterioration and maintain quality.