Abstract

The British Leather Confederation has estimated losses in the UK leather trade industry from poor quality pelts and hides at about 50 million per year, (35 million from poor quality cattle hides and 15 million from poor sheep pelts). One estimate puts the increase in poor sheep pelts from 5 to 40% in the last five years. Damage comes from mechanical sources (e.g. barbed wire), dirt (up to 20 kg dirt on one cattle hide), skin infection such as ringworm (cattle), Dermatophilus (sheep) and ecto parasites. The present article stresses the control of ectoparasites, as the control of the other kinds of damage, with the possible exception of Dermatophilus, is straight forward.