Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects

Ediris Abdulkadir Meko

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12

Review Article |

| Peer-Reviewed

Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects

Ediris Abdulkadir Meko^*

Published in Science Discovery Animals (Volume 1, Issue 4)

Received: 1 October 2026 Accepted: 12 October 2026 Published: 28 October 2026

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Hides and skins are important livestock by-products and the principal raw materials for Ethiopia’s leather and leather-products industries. Their value, however, depends not only on the number of animals slaughtered but also on how promptly and correctly the pelts are removed, preserved, stored and transported before tanning. Fresh hides and skins contain abundant water, nutrients and microorganisms; delays after slaughter can therefore lead to bacterial putrefaction, hair slip, grain damage, unpleasant odour and irreversible losses in leather strength and appearance. In Ethiopia, these risks are intensified by dispersed small-scale and household slaughter, limited access to suitable salt and drying facilities, long distances between rural producers and collection centres, variable technical knowledge, weak incentives for quality, and exposure to heat, dust, insects and rain. This review synthesizes preservation principles and techniques relevant to Ethiopian conditions, including immediate handling, wet salting, dry salting, air-drying, brine curing, chilling and freezing, and selected emerging approaches such as antimicrobial treatments and improved curing systems. It distinguishes preservation—which slows microbial and enzymatic deterioration—from defect prevention, grading and subsequent tannery processing. Evidence from Ethiopian studies indicates that post-slaughter putrefaction is one contributor to downgrading and rejection, although many defects originate before slaughter or during flaying and cannot be corrected by curing. The review proposes a context-sensitive preservation pathway: clean and rapid collection; species-appropriate curing; controlled drying or salting; raised, ventilated storage; pest exclusion; traceable grading; and prompt transport to processors. It also identifies research needs in locally feasible curing protocols, salt quality and reuse, low-cost drying structures, preservation costs, environmental impacts and incentives linked to raw-material quality. The central conclusion is that preservation should be treated as a coordinated value-chain service rather than an isolated task performed after slaughter.

Published in	Science Discovery Animals (Volume 1, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12
Page(s)	100-109
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cattle Hide, Sheep Skin, Curing, Salting, Drying, Putrefaction, Ethiopia

References

[1]	Adem, M. (2019) ‘Production of hide and skin in Ethiopia; marketing opportunities and constraints: A review paper’, Cogent Food & Agriculture, 5(1), Article 1565078. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2019.1565078
[2]	Alemu, L. G., Kefale, G. Y., Hailu, R., Tilahun, A., Minbale, E. and Eyasu, A. (2024) ‘Toward sustainable leather processing: A comprehensive review of cleaner production strategies and environmental impacts’, Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2024, Article 8117915. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8117915
[3]	Alemu, T. and Girma, M. (2025). Production practices and quality defects of hides and skins in Northern Ethiopia. African Journal of Rural Development, 4(4). Available at: https://afjrdev.org/index.php/jos/article/view/587
[4]	China, C. R., Maguta, M. M., Nyandoro, S. S., Hilonga, A., Kanth, S. V. and Njau, K. N. (2020) ‘Alternative tanning technologies and their suitability in curbing environmental pollution from the leather industry: A comprehensive review’, Chemosphere, 254, Article 126804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126804
[5]	Clottey, S. J. A. (1985) Manual for the slaughter of small ruminants in developing countries. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No. 49. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available at: https://www.fao.org/4/X6552E/X6552E00.html (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
[6]	Debelu, T. (2022) ‘Assessment on challenges of hide and skin production and marketing in North Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia’, Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 12(20). Available at: https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JBAH/article/view/59704
[7]	Getabalew, M., Mindaye, A. and Zewdie, D. (2021). Hide and Skin Quality Factors and Marketing Systems in Ethiopia: A Review. Developing Country Studies, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.7176/DCS/11-2-01
[8]	Kahsay, T., Negash, G., Hagos, Y. and Hadush, B. (2015). Pre-slaughter, slaughter and post-slaughter defects of skins and hides at the Sheba Tannery and Leather Industry, Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 82(1), a931. https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v82i1.931
[9]	Kenea, T. (2019). Hide and Skin Value Chain in Ethiopia. Journal of Marketing and Consumer Research, 53. https://doi.org/10.7176/JMCR/53-04
[10]	Memon, H., Chaklie, E. B. and Birhanu, M. M. (2025). Prevalence and Quality of Common Skin Defects in Tanneries Around Bahir Dar. Journal of the American Leather Chemists Association, 120(8). https://doi.org/10.34314/b5fn5s31
[11]	Omoloso, O., Mortimer, K., Wise, W. R. and Jraisat, L. (2021) ‘Sustainability research in the leather industry: A critical review of progress and opportunities for future research’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 285, Article 125441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125441
[12]	Samidurai, S., Khambhaty, Y. and Alagamuthu, T. S. (2022) ‘Bio-preservation of raw hides/skins: A review on greener substitute to conventional salt curing’, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(43), pp. 64513–64535. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22027-7
[13]	Teferi, T. A., Bekele, Z. A. and Gidey, H. T. (2025a). Hide and Skin Production and its Management Practices – A Review Paper. Annals of Agricultural and Crop Sciences, 10(2), 1180. Available at: https://austinpublishinggroup.com/agriculture-crop-sciences/fulltext/aacs-v10-id1180.php
[14]	Teferi, T. A., Bekele, Z. A. and Gidey, H. T. (2025b). The Techniques of Hides and Skins Preservation: A Technical Manual. Leather and Leather Products Industry Research Development Center, Manufacturing Industry Development Institute, Ethiopia. Available at: https://zenodo.org/records/17276716
[15]	Teklay, A., Gebeyehu, G., Getachew, T., Yayneshet, T. and Sastry, T. P. (2020) ‘Ethiopian hides and skin defects and quality status: An assessment at wet blue stage’, Open Access Journal of Waste Management & Xenobiotics, 2(4), pp. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.23880/oajwx-16000130
[16]	Tsigab, T., Bsrat, A., Alemayohu, R., Arefe, M. A., Kumar, N. and Hadush, B. (2020) ‘Effects of skin and hide defects on quality grades and physical characteristics of crust leather’, Ethiopian Veterinary Journal, 24(2), pp. 35–53. https://doi.org/10.4314/evj.v24i2.3
[17]	Wu, J., Zhao, L., Liu, X., Chen, W. and Gu, H. (2017) ‘Recent progress in cleaner preservation of hides and skins’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 148, pp. 158–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.01.113

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Meko, E. A. (2026). Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects. Science Discovery Animals, 1(4), 100-109. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Meko, E. A. Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects. Sci. Discov. Anim. 2026, 1(4), 100-109. doi: 10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Meko EA. Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects. Sci Discov Anim. 2026;1(4):100-109. doi: 10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12,
  author = {Ediris Abdulkadir Meko},
  title = {Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects},
  journal = {Science Discovery Animals},
  volume = {1},
  number = {4},
  pages = {100-109},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sdan.20260104.12},
  abstract = {Hides and skins are important livestock by-products and the principal raw materials for Ethiopia’s leather and leather-products industries. Their value, however, depends not only on the number of animals slaughtered but also on how promptly and correctly the pelts are removed, preserved, stored and transported before tanning. Fresh hides and skins contain abundant water, nutrients and microorganisms; delays after slaughter can therefore lead to bacterial putrefaction, hair slip, grain damage, unpleasant odour and irreversible losses in leather strength and appearance. In Ethiopia, these risks are intensified by dispersed small-scale and household slaughter, limited access to suitable salt and drying facilities, long distances between rural producers and collection centres, variable technical knowledge, weak incentives for quality, and exposure to heat, dust, insects and rain. This review synthesizes preservation principles and techniques relevant to Ethiopian conditions, including immediate handling, wet salting, dry salting, air-drying, brine curing, chilling and freezing, and selected emerging approaches such as antimicrobial treatments and improved curing systems. It distinguishes preservation—which slows microbial and enzymatic deterioration—from defect prevention, grading and subsequent tannery processing. Evidence from Ethiopian studies indicates that post-slaughter putrefaction is one contributor to downgrading and rejection, although many defects originate before slaughter or during flaying and cannot be corrected by curing. The review proposes a context-sensitive preservation pathway: clean and rapid collection; species-appropriate curing; controlled drying or salting; raised, ventilated storage; pest exclusion; traceable grading; and prompt transport to processors. It also identifies research needs in locally feasible curing protocols, salt quality and reuse, low-cost drying structures, preservation costs, environmental impacts and incentives linked to raw-material quality. The central conclusion is that preservation should be treated as a coordinated value-chain service rather than an isolated task performed after slaughter.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects
AU  - Ediris Abdulkadir Meko
Y1  - 2026/10/28
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12
T2  - Science Discovery Animals
JF  - Science Discovery Animals
JO  - Science Discovery Animals
SP  - 100
EP  - 109
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 3142-8983
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12
AB  - Hides and skins are important livestock by-products and the principal raw materials for Ethiopia’s leather and leather-products industries. Their value, however, depends not only on the number of animals slaughtered but also on how promptly and correctly the pelts are removed, preserved, stored and transported before tanning. Fresh hides and skins contain abundant water, nutrients and microorganisms; delays after slaughter can therefore lead to bacterial putrefaction, hair slip, grain damage, unpleasant odour and irreversible losses in leather strength and appearance. In Ethiopia, these risks are intensified by dispersed small-scale and household slaughter, limited access to suitable salt and drying facilities, long distances between rural producers and collection centres, variable technical knowledge, weak incentives for quality, and exposure to heat, dust, insects and rain. This review synthesizes preservation principles and techniques relevant to Ethiopian conditions, including immediate handling, wet salting, dry salting, air-drying, brine curing, chilling and freezing, and selected emerging approaches such as antimicrobial treatments and improved curing systems. It distinguishes preservation—which slows microbial and enzymatic deterioration—from defect prevention, grading and subsequent tannery processing. Evidence from Ethiopian studies indicates that post-slaughter putrefaction is one contributor to downgrading and rejection, although many defects originate before slaughter or during flaying and cannot be corrected by curing. The review proposes a context-sensitive preservation pathway: clean and rapid collection; species-appropriate curing; controlled drying or salting; raised, ventilated storage; pest exclusion; traceable grading; and prompt transport to processors. It also identifies research needs in locally feasible curing protocols, salt quality and reuse, low-cost drying structures, preservation costs, environmental impacts and incentives linked to raw-material quality. The central conclusion is that preservation should be treated as a coordinated value-chain service rather than an isolated task performed after slaughter.
VL  - 1
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Ediris Abdulkadir Meko

Department of Animal Science, Mattu University, Bedele, Ethiopia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0009-0881-0829

Download PDF

Submit an Article

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Meko, E. A. (2026). Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects. Science Discovery Animals, 1(4), 100-109. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Meko, E. A. Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects. Sci. Discov. Anim. 2026, 1(4), 100-109. doi: 10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Meko EA. Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects. Sci Discov Anim. 2026;1(4):100-109. doi: 10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12,
  author = {Ediris Abdulkadir Meko},
  title = {Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects},
  journal = {Science Discovery Animals},
  volume = {1},
  number = {4},
  pages = {100-109},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sdan.20260104.12},
  abstract = {Hides and skins are important livestock by-products and the principal raw materials for Ethiopia’s leather and leather-products industries. Their value, however, depends not only on the number of animals slaughtered but also on how promptly and correctly the pelts are removed, preserved, stored and transported before tanning. Fresh hides and skins contain abundant water, nutrients and microorganisms; delays after slaughter can therefore lead to bacterial putrefaction, hair slip, grain damage, unpleasant odour and irreversible losses in leather strength and appearance. In Ethiopia, these risks are intensified by dispersed small-scale and household slaughter, limited access to suitable salt and drying facilities, long distances between rural producers and collection centres, variable technical knowledge, weak incentives for quality, and exposure to heat, dust, insects and rain. This review synthesizes preservation principles and techniques relevant to Ethiopian conditions, including immediate handling, wet salting, dry salting, air-drying, brine curing, chilling and freezing, and selected emerging approaches such as antimicrobial treatments and improved curing systems. It distinguishes preservation—which slows microbial and enzymatic deterioration—from defect prevention, grading and subsequent tannery processing. Evidence from Ethiopian studies indicates that post-slaughter putrefaction is one contributor to downgrading and rejection, although many defects originate before slaughter or during flaying and cannot be corrected by curing. The review proposes a context-sensitive preservation pathway: clean and rapid collection; species-appropriate curing; controlled drying or salting; raised, ventilated storage; pest exclusion; traceable grading; and prompt transport to processors. It also identifies research needs in locally feasible curing protocols, salt quality and reuse, low-cost drying structures, preservation costs, environmental impacts and incentives linked to raw-material quality. The central conclusion is that preservation should be treated as a coordinated value-chain service rather than an isolated task performed after slaughter.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Hide and Skin Preservation in Ethiopia: Traditional Practices, Improved Techniques, Quality Challenges, and Future Prospects
AU  - Ediris Abdulkadir Meko
Y1  - 2026/10/28
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12
T2  - Science Discovery Animals
JF  - Science Discovery Animals
JO  - Science Discovery Animals
SP  - 100
EP  - 109
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 3142-8983
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdan.20260104.12
AB  - Hides and skins are important livestock by-products and the principal raw materials for Ethiopia’s leather and leather-products industries. Their value, however, depends not only on the number of animals slaughtered but also on how promptly and correctly the pelts are removed, preserved, stored and transported before tanning. Fresh hides and skins contain abundant water, nutrients and microorganisms; delays after slaughter can therefore lead to bacterial putrefaction, hair slip, grain damage, unpleasant odour and irreversible losses in leather strength and appearance. In Ethiopia, these risks are intensified by dispersed small-scale and household slaughter, limited access to suitable salt and drying facilities, long distances between rural producers and collection centres, variable technical knowledge, weak incentives for quality, and exposure to heat, dust, insects and rain. This review synthesizes preservation principles and techniques relevant to Ethiopian conditions, including immediate handling, wet salting, dry salting, air-drying, brine curing, chilling and freezing, and selected emerging approaches such as antimicrobial treatments and improved curing systems. It distinguishes preservation—which slows microbial and enzymatic deterioration—from defect prevention, grading and subsequent tannery processing. Evidence from Ethiopian studies indicates that post-slaughter putrefaction is one contributor to downgrading and rejection, although many defects originate before slaughter or during flaying and cannot be corrected by curing. The review proposes a context-sensitive preservation pathway: clean and rapid collection; species-appropriate curing; controlled drying or salting; raised, ventilated storage; pest exclusion; traceable grading; and prompt transport to processors. It also identifies research needs in locally feasible curing protocols, salt quality and reuse, low-cost drying structures, preservation costs, environmental impacts and incentives linked to raw-material quality. The central conclusion is that preservation should be treated as a coordinated value-chain service rather than an isolated task performed after slaughter.
VL  - 1
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download