LPT 312: Abattoir Practices and Animal Products Technology (1+1)

LEATHER INDUSTRY IN INDIA

• In the past, India had been one of the largest exporters of hides and skins.
• However, a few decades back, the policy of exporting only value added material was adopted and presently finished leather is exported to many countries.
• Interestingly, there is a marked difference in sources of hides and skins in our country.

Source of hides

• 20-25% of hides are obtained from slaughtered animals.
• 75-80% of hides are obtained from fallen animals.

Source of skins

• 80% of skins are obtained from slaughtered animals.
• 75-80% of skins are obtained from fallen animals.
• Skin and hides are sold for use as raw material for leather making.
• The tannery is the ultimate destination.
• Skins from healthy animals without the slightest blemish properly removed, preserved and delivered to the tannery without damage in transit is in great demand and fetches more money.
• Tanning is the conversion of hide or skin in to a rot– and insect–resistant material, leather.
• Leather must be durable, flexible and elastic.
• The tanning process is a combination of mechanical and chemical actions.
• The yield of hides and skins varies between species.
• In cattle, the average yield of hide is 7 percent of the live weight, whereas in sheep and goat the average yield of skin is 11 percent of live weight.
• As per FAO estimates (2001), India produced the following quantities of fresh hides and skins.

Hides and Skins	Weight (MT)
Cattle hides	4,66,000.00
Buffalo hides	5,10,000.00
Goat skins	1,28,880.00
Sheep skins	52,380.00
Sheep skin with wool	524.00