Sheep - AgRIS

15.1 Hides and Pelts
15. Utilization of By-Products
15.1.1 Hides
Though India stands second in the world in the production of hides and fifth in the matter
of production of skins, it cannot forge ahead in capitalising on its large production unless stress
is laid on quality right from the initial stages of production. As such, improved methods of
flaying should be introduced in the slaughter houses and better flaying should be encouraged by
payment of premia to good flayers.
As against the declining trend in the exports of hides and skins, leather and leather
manufactures have been emerging in a significant manner in Indian exports. The average
annual exports of this item improved from Rs.63 corers during the triennium ending 196869 to
Rs. 146 corers during the triennium ending 1973-74 with the peak having been reached in 1973
when exports amounted to Rs. 175 corers.
15.1.1 Pelts
The pelts are produced either through the slaughter of lambs with in 24-48 hours of birth or
through killing of unborn lambs removed through slaughter or through abortion of the mother
around 130-140 days of pregnancy. The latter pelts, known as broad (fat) tailed persian are
twice more valuable than the best types produced from slaughter after birth as they have better
ornament, are lighter and more lustrous. The lamb pelts sell from 15-20 dollar per pelt in
international market depending upon their size and quality. The quality of pelt is generally
determined by the ornament (type of curls, their size and tightness), lusture and its weight. The
present trend is to get light skins with short hair. The pelts are classified into various types and
into quality grades within each type; the types are jacket, ribbed, flat and Caucasian.
In order to obtain the best quality pelts so so as to fetch the maximum price, one to two day
old lambs should be slaughtered and the pelt removed. Beyond two days of age, the hair grow
longer decreasing the quality of the pelt. This pelt of lamb serves as the raw material and it has
to pass through many processing techniques before being actually converted into the final
product. As the quality of the end product depends to a large extent on the quality of the raw
material, It is very essential to protect. The raw pelts of the freshly slaughtered lambs from
purification so that the best quality pelts could be produced For this purpose the raw pelts are
subjected to primary processing known as "curing". Though there are many methods-of
"curing" or pressuring the raw skins, the "dry salting" method as practiced in the USSR is the
simplest, practically feasible and most economical in the conditions prevailing in India. As the
primary processing is to be done immediately after slaughtering, the raw Karakul pelts are dry
salted at the sheep farm itself and hence the complete knowledge of this method is necessary
for every sheep farmer rearing Karakul sheep.
15.2 Dead carcass utilization
Failure to make use of the carcasses of fallen animals is responsible for an enormous
wastage of otherwise useful material.
Desicating plants fully equipped to Process animal carcasses should be established on a
subdistrict, district or regional basis and that incentive payments need to be made to those who
bring fallen animals to these plants. Each state should establish a suitable number of carcass
utilisation and hide flaying centres with a view to prevent the colossal waste that is occurring at
present.
The huge financial loss sustained due to faulty methods of flaying. Curing of hides and
noutilisation of the byproducts off animals has been observed. This need be checked by and
properly utilization by establishing modern utilization centres.
15.3 Slaughter by Products
a) Bones
A major portion of the bones collected in India is utilised for production of crushed bones
and bone grists and a small quantity is used for the manufacture of bonemeal. There were 100
475