A study to establish the handling practices and quality of raw Sanga cattle hides and skins in Kiruhura district

Abstract

The hides and skins value chain is a key income source in the global livestock sector. However, in Uganda's Kiruhura district, the cattle-keeping community has not fully exploited this non-food livestock product due to substandard production and limited integration into this value chain. A cross sectional study conducted in Rushere, Akageti, and Sanga slaughter houses aimed to identify defects in Sanga cattle hides and skins, assess fresh hide quality, and gather stakeholder perspectives. 52.0% of the 200 hides and skin samples had pre-slaughter defects affecting quality. These defects included whip lashes, wire fence damages, brand marks, wounds, bruises, and damage from parasites, diseases or insects. All hides obtained defects from the flaying process, with flay cuts occurring in 73.5% of the samples being the most significant factor leading to poor-quality hides. Penetrating holes (35.5%), stains (97.5%), bruises (42.5%), and excess flesh (95.5%) also contributed to hide quality degradation. Most hides were grade 2 (63.5%) and high quality (74.5%) as at slaughter. Slaughter premises lacked essential resources and did not meet minimum standards. Cattle flayers (96.4%) undervalued hides and skins and had not obtained any hide handling training. Extension workers confirmed underutilization of this non-food resource. To improve the sector, workers and farmers should be educated on proper hide handling and quality requirements of the leather industry, resources should be provided to extension workers, and allocate more government funding to upgrade slaughterhouses and establish other value addition facilities in Kiruhura district.