Abstract

This study was conducted on handling and management of skin and hide after slaughtering Wolaita zone and Kambata Tambaro zone of southern nation and nationalities people region. During survey time forty butchers/hotels, forty middlemen, twenty collectors and ten traders were identified and conducted the interview. The result showed that absence of flay cut, freshness, size and absence of dirty of the skin are major criteria for quality of hide and skin. Respondents from their experience ascertained that flay cuts, bone break on hide, blood and fresh remnant were among the major defects encountered during slaughtering process where as delay in selling and unstable market are also problems encountered after slaughtering of hide and skin. It can be concluded that during and after slaughter defects have main effect on the potential to downgrade the quality of hide and skins in the study areas. However, they can be minimized through continuous awareness creation and training and provision of more access to market.