Abstract:
Livestock production and tanneries have high potential in Ethiopia, even though there are a critical shortage of quality raw hides and skins at national level. In the study districts there is high livestock population potential for hide and skin production but different types of defects were observed and hampered the effective and efficient utilization of these resources. Therefore, cross- sectional study was conducted in Bako Tibe and Ilu Gelan districts, West Showa zone, Oromia Regional State with the objectives of assessing pre- and post- mortem defects that influence hide and skin quality. Primary data was collected from sample household heads, middlemen, butcheries, hotel/restaurants and tanneries using structured questionnaire, direct observation and semi-structured interview. All middlemen, butchery and hotel/restaurants in the study areas were incorporated. Sample for households were selected using simple random sampling techniques. For the observational study sample size of hides and skins were determined, after one-month preliminary survey at collection centers. Result of the study showed that animal production systems in the districts were extensive (83.1%), semi-intensive (12.3%) and intensive (4.6%). All respondents were ascertained the absence of extension services on hide and skin management and all of middle men, 80% of butcheries, 87% of hotel and restaurants did not pay due attention while transporting the animals on foot. The maximum pre-mortem defect observed on livestock by households (87.2%), hotel/ restaurants (91.3%), butcheries (93.3%) and middle men (90%) respectively were due to ectoparasites. Out of the respondents 64.6%, 40% and 82.6% of respondents from household, butcheries and hotels/restaurants respectively were slaughtered their livestock on the ground without stunning and hanging on the pole. The maximum post-mortem defects happen during slaughtering by households (95.4%), hotel/restaurants (87.0%), and butcheries (86.7%) were dirt and/or flay cut respectively. According to the respondents, 38.5 and 33.8% of the households put hide and skin simply on the ground and folding and put on the ground respectively. During observational study the major post-mortem defects of the hide were flesh remnant (94.3%), dirty (74.3%), corduroying (71.4%), and fly cut (65.7%). In sheep skins, there was a higher prevalence of flesh remnant (68.6%) followed by dirt (37.1%), poor pattern (28.6%) and flay cut/hole (28.6%) whereas, a higher prevalence of dirt (45.7%) was observed in goat skins which was followed by flesh remnant (28.6%) and flay cut/hole (20%). It can be concluded that traditional husbandry, slaughtering, the preservation systems of raw hides and skins, the absence of slaughtering facility and extension service exacerbate the problem. Therefore, there is a strong need to prepare comprehensive training manuals and extension packages on live animal management, such as housing, transportation, slaughtering and post slaughtering hide and skins managements that can be incorporated with other extension services performed by the district development agents at all levels. These can enhance the awareness of the producers and the collectors regarding the hide and skin quality managements.