Abstract:
A cross sectional study was carried out between October 2011 and April 2012 with the aim of
assessing the major causes of skin defects that resulted in down grading and rejection of pickled sheep and
goat skins at Bahir Dar tannery, Ethiopia. A total of 1000 randomly selected pickled skins (500 sheep and 500
goat skins) were examined visually for possible defects. Of the 1000 fresh pickled skins examined during the
study, 99.9 % (999/1000) were found to be affected with one or more defects. Of the total skins examined in the
study 49.2% (492/1000) fresh pickled skins were proved to be affected with cockle. Among the 492 skins known
to have cockle defects 77.23% (380/492) were sheep skins and 22.76% (112/492) were goat skins. The species
specific prevalence of cockle in sheep and goats were 76% (380/500) and 22.4% (112/500), respectively.
Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was statistically significant difference (P<0.05) on the
prevalence of cockle between species of the animals examined. From the total examined skins 29.3% (293/1000)
hosted one or more types of post slaughter defects of which, 66.55 % (195/293) were sheep skins and 33.45%
(98/293) were goat skins. There was statistically significant variation (p<0.05) on the occurrence of post
slaughter skin defect between species. The overall prevalence of flying defects in this study was 27.8%
(278/1000). The species specific prevalence of flying defects was confirmed to be higher in sheep (31.8%) than
goats (23.8%). Of the 1000 skins examined, 25.1% were found to be affected with scar. The species specific
prevalence of scar defect was higher in goats (15.2%) than sheep (9.9%). This difference on the prevalence of
scar between sheep and goats was statistically significant (p<0.05). Three hundred one (30.1%) out of 1000
sampled skins were proved to be affected by scratch with higher prevalence in goats (22.9%) when compared
to sheep (7.2%). The difference on the prevalence of scratch between sheep and goats skins was statistically
significant (p<0.05). The present study showed high prevalence of skin defects at Bahir Dar tannery, Ethiopia
and this suggests the need to implement awareness and rigorous training on the prevalence, causes and
prevention of skin defects and safe handling and processing of skins among the livestock owners, abattoir
workers, back yard slaughter men, skin collectors and factory workers in the areas which supply skin to the
tannery in order to decrease the immense economic losses to the country, Ethiopia
