Guidelines for humane handling, transport and slaughter of

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Guidelines for humane handling, transport and slaughter of livestock
B. Hides and skins quality
Hides and skins should have the highest value of any product
of slaughter animals, other than the carcass. This is particularly so of
cattle hides and small ruminants and ostrich skins. In the case of
pigs and poultry, the skin forms part of the edible meat.
Useful leather can be made only from undamaged and
properly treated skins. Proper handling of these items is important to
produce a valuable commodity. Careless damage to hides and skins
will cost the industry much loss.
Hides and skins of slaughter livestock (Fig. 5) can be
damaged by thoughtless handling and treatment of these animals in
the following ways:
Fig. 5:
Hide damage
- Brands and
injury
1. Before slaughter:-
• Indiscriminate branding;
• Injuries from thorns, whips, sticks, barbed wire
and horns;
• Unsuitable handling facilities;