A new research on Ethiopia's hide and skin revealed that hide and skin Ethiopia produces requires only minimal degreasing chemicals. This, the research indicated, is due to low fat and good skin substance they contain.

The findings of the research entitled “Ethiopia’s Hide and Skin: Histological, Microscopic, Physical and Chemical Characterization, Defect Analysis and Technical Up-gradation” were released today. Mohammed Hussein, the researcher, said the fat content of Ethiopian hide and skin ranges from 3 to 13 percent. This, Mohammed said, is tantamount to no significant fat content which eventually makes it easier for the product to be transformed to leather products. Ethiopian sheepskin, for instance, has an average nitrogen content of 13.5 percent, which makes it convenient to transform it into leather. Ethiopian hide and skin have thick corium, good substance, low-fat content, and good surface grain pattern, among other excellent qualities, Mohammed related.

“Tanneries, therefore, need to reduce degreasing chemicals as this causes unnecessary wastage,” the researcher noted. The findings also identified which breed of skin and hide are preferable for upgrading, he added. The research also identified skin disease, knife cut, smallpox, scar or wound, and gauge marks among the major defects of Ethiopian hide and skin.

Conducted for the last 3 years, the research is based on the analysis of a total of 37 Ethiopian breeds, of which 12  are cattle, 15 sheep, and 10 of goats.

Source: ENA