Research ArticleAbstract
The present study was carried out to study the marketing practices of skin and hides in coastal areas of Pakistan. Results of present study indicated that in Karachi, almost (100%) of the livestock keepers sell their hides and skins to city markets. 100% of farmer sell hides and skin to collection centers in Badin, Thatta and Sujawal. Majority of the butchers keep the animals inside house until they are slaughtered in Karachi, while at Badin and Sujawal keep the animals outside house until they are slaughtered. Most of the respondents (100%) stated that hides and skins are important for cash income in all study areas. In all study cities, majority of respondents used freshness of hides and skins criteria during purchasing. 75.00%, 100%, 100% and 100% respectively of the respondents noticed physical defects such as absence of flay cuts for determination of bestselling price of goat skins at study areas. 50%, 100%, 100% and 100% respectively of the collection centers purchased hides and skin in the last three months from middlemen in all four areas. 100% of the collection centers had opinion that the most dominant reasons for purchasing hides and skins was low price offer in all four cities. 100% of the respondents stated that the market price varies from season to season. Most of the respondents believed that the major reason for variation in market prices of skin and hides might be due to factory/tannery price variation. In conclusion, the respondents facing many impediments in marketing of skin and hides at coastal areas of Pakistan. The major constrains faced by respondents are administrative problems, poor quality of skin and hides, storage, transportation facility, lack of handling skin and hides.
Keywords: Animal Byproducts;Economic Value;Marketing;Perception;Skin Damage
Introduction
Hide represents the 12 percentage of the value of an animal. Generally the hide is 17 percentage of the carcass weight and 7 percentage of live weight. Hence this part adds the considerable value in the animal products. The number of animals slaughtered daily clearly indicates the significant income potentiality of hides and skin, but in many parts of mountain and high-mountain, the hide is not collected at all or used inefficiently. Hide is considered just as waste material in these places. The suppliers have no or little access there due to transport difficulty.Similarly, most of the goat meat consumers prefer the skin intact meat. Public awareness along these lines is still not adequate, and the cash value of skin is ignored in many of the places. (FAO, 2010)[1]. The use of leather goes back to the pre-historic times. The principal raw material is the hide or skin of animals. Hides and skin constitute valuable material removed from the animal carcass. Skin of cow and buffalo is called hide and skin of goat and sheep is called skin. Cow and buffalo hides are 1.5-4.5 square meter in size and weigh about 15-30 kilograms (kg). Similarly, sheep and goat skins are 0.4-0.5 square meter in size and around 2 kg in weight. In Nepal, buffalo hide and sheep and goat skin are the byproducts of meat industry. But the cattle hide is collected from naturally died animals due to ban on cow slaughter in this country. It is estimated that bovine hides represent 12% of the value of animal. The number of animals slaughtered daily clearly indicates the significant income potentiality of hides and skin, but in many parts of mountain and high-mountain, the hide is not collected at all or used inefficiently[2] (Kagunyuet al., 2011).
Majority of the world’s rural poor and a significant proportion of the urban poor keep livestock for various reasons that extend far beyond income generation (Randolph et al., 2007)[3]. Channels of hide and skin market function by four factors in which they are primary, secondary, tertiary and terminal. Homestead slaughterhouses based on primary markets in rural town, local collectors based on secondary markets in the cities. Livestock keepers buying their hides and skin to the primary traders in the villages and sell to wholesaler (Leach, 1995)[4]. Goat skin is considered high quality raw material for leather industry. A policy on market weight and age of slaughter may yield qualitative and quantitative leather, reduce the cost of tanning and higher value due to larger skin size. Policy is also required to generate good dividend in the market and economic return to the farmers. Presently, scanty information is available on the effect of indiscriminate marketing and slaughtering of goats on yield of hides and skins their likely impact on economy.
Therefore, an investigation is needed to formulate effective policies on rearing and marketing of goats for improving production, income of the owners as well as meet consumer’s requirement. Hides and skins are the basic raw materials for the leather industry. Currently there are about 27 tanneries in the country and have an average capacity of 4,000 pieces of hides and 30,000 pieces of skins per day (EEA 2007)[5]. However, they are working under capacity even if the country has a potential to supply around 20 million pieces of hides and skins per annum. Hides and skins by-products of the livestock sector are primarily the raw material for the tanning industry; where they provide leather for the manufacture of miscellaneous leather products, but especially shoes. Although any hide or skin can be processed into leather various breeds of sheep and goats provide the overwhelming majority of raw materials. During the course of conventional (chrome) tanning, processes may be interrupted to provide intermediate materials such as pickled skins and wet blue leathers. All of these semi-processed materials, as well as raw materials and finished leathers (and leather products) may be traded internationally (FAO, 2013)[6]. Up to 65% of the defect that lead to decline of the quality occur in the pre-slaughter stage of production while the animal still alive and a considerable portion of these pre- slaughter defects are directly associated to skin disease initiated by external parasites (Desta, 2008)[7].
Limited work has been conducted on the skin and hides in the area. Information of this study may serve as a guideline for planning of proper skin removing at slaughter house, marketing channels and transportation, be care from defects scratch, and wound. Keeping in view the importance of hide and skin, the present study is designed to study skin and hide marketing practices in the coastal areas of Pakistan.
Materials and Methods
The present study was carried out during the year 2018 on the marketing of skin and hides in the coastal areas of Pakistan. Study focused 4 main cities (Karachi, Thatta, Sujawal and Badin)of coastal zone of Sindh Province of Pakistan. Initially, the general information was obtained from different sources for physical situation of the study area. Prior to collection of data, meetings were arranged with livestock experts in the cities to clear the purpose of study. Field visits were made to gather pre-information and select the villages and thereby the household.A total of 4 villages from each of 4 cities and 15 respondents form each village were selected. Respondents were interviewed to know the major management issues, constraints and causes of defect at tanneries regarding skin and hides of sheep/goat, cattle/buffalo and camel. The research was completed through a field survey by using well validated interview schedule. The interviewing schedule/questionnaire was considered an appropriate tool for the present study, which was advised according to the requirement and relevance of the present research to collect relevant data.
To attain accurate and reliable data, care and caution were taken in course of data collection. The farmers were asked questions in a face to face manner at doorstep. Based on the questionnaire the following major information was collected demographic characteristics such as educational status, purpose of keeping ruminants. 15respondents each village were selected for determining pre and post quality defects such as skin purification, wounds infestation, damages during grazing and slaughtering, knife cuts, ecto-parasites, horn rake, rope mark, small pox, branding, swelling, nodules, coloration as well as perception of respondents regarding hides and skin viz., veterinary services for sick animals, use of hide and skin, care of skin, selling of hide and skin, problems in finding buyers for sale of skin and hide, where they sale the hide and skin, constraints in sale of hides and skin in the market, marketing channels information, criteria of skin and hide buy, determination of sale prices, which type of skin and hide is highly demanded, etc.
Statistical Analysis
The data was statistically analyzed using computerized statistical package i.e. Student Edition of Statistics version 8.1. Frequency and percentage of the obtained data was worked out and are presented in the results.
Results
Age Wise Distribution of the Respondents
In Karachi, maximum number of respondents (52.38%) were lying in the age group of 31-35 years and minimum number of respondents (4.76%) were in the age of 15-20 and 36-40 years. In case of Badin 32.00% were lying in the age group of 41-45 years and 8.00% in the age of 36-40 years. In Thatta 28.00% were belonging to the age group of 26-30 years and 4.00% fall in the age of 15-20 years. However, in Sujawal the number of respondents belonging to the age group of 31-35 years was 27.59% and to 41-45 years was 6.90% (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Age of the respondents.
Educational Background of the Respondents
Educational status of respondents in various coastal areas of Sindh Province Pakistan was evaluated and represented in the (Figure 2). Majority of the respondents (76.19%) was intermediate, 23.81% and 4.76% were educated up to matric and middle level respectively in Karachi. In Badin, the majority (60.00%) of respondents were educated up to matric level, 24.00% up to intermediate level and 12.00% up to middle level. In case of Thatta, maximum percentage (64%) of the respondents was educated up to primary level, 20.00% up to middle, 12.00% up to matric and 4.00% up to intermediate level. However, in Sujawal, maximum percentage (48.28%) of the respondents was educated up to primary level of education, 20.69% educated up to middle and matric level and 10.34% educated up to intermediate level (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Education level of the respondents
Perception of Middlemen/Traders (market) on Hides and Skin
The perception of middlemen/traders (market) regarding the hides and skin was evaluated and presented in the (Table 1). In Karachi, 100% of the livestock keepers sell their hides and skins to city market. Whereas, in Badin, Thatta and Sujawal majority (100%) of them sell the hides and skins to the collection centers. In all four the majority (28.57%, 88.89%, 81.82% and 76.92%) of respondents said, they face difficulty to sell and rest of the (71.42%, 11.11%, 18.18% and 23.08%) of respondents said noany difficulty in finding buyers for selling. Exactly, 100% of the respondents sell hides and skin at lower price when hides and skin were not sold, that they sold in low price in all study areas. Majority (100%) of the respondents had opinion that the major reason of selling hides and skins was low price offer four cities. Almost 100% of the respondents stated that national price fixed the hides and skins prices in the market. Most (85.71%, 77.78%, 90.91% and 84.62%) of the respondents said no regarding look or quality of the skin when they buy and rest of the (14.29%, 22.22%, 9.09% and 15.38%) said yes for this question in all four study areas.
Table 1: Perception of middlemen / traders (market) regarding marketing of hides and skin in cities.
Majority (71.43%, 66.67%, 81.82% and 76.92%) of the respondents argued that look of the skin have impact on the price and remaining (28.57%, 33.33%, 18.18% and 23.08%) of the respondents say no regarding look of the skin have impact on the price in all. Almost 100% of the respondents sell their hides and skin in the same market in all four cities. Most (100%) of the respondents said no regarding rejection of skin/hide when they buying in all four cities. Majority (57.14%, 44.44%, 66.67% and 55.56) of the respondents observed ecto-parasite infestation in hides and skins, whereas (28.57%, 22.22%, 44.44% and 55.56%) of the respondents observed fly cut defect in hides and skins at the time of buying and rest (14.29%, 33.33%, 11.11% and 33.33%) of the respondents observed wound defect in hides and skins in all four study areas. Most of the respondents (100%) used transport system for hides and skins in all. Almost 100% of the respondents immediately sale hides and skins after slaughtering in all four cities. 100% of the respondents used salting method for preservation of hides and skin. Most of the respondents (100%) stated that hides and skins are important for cash income in all study areas (Table 1).
Perception of Butchers on Hides and Skin
Results in regarding the perception of butchers for marketing of hides and skin are presented in the (Table 2). In all four study areas, most (100%) respondents buy the animals from local markets. 70.00%, 85.71%, 61.54% and 66.67% respectively of the butchers transport their animals from market to slaughter house by means of foot and rest of the 30.00%, 14.29%, 38.46% and 33.33% respectively transport their animals by means of truck in all four study regions. Majority (80.00%, 78.57%, 92.31% and 73.33%) of the butchers noticed some condition that could damage the skin/body of the animal along transportation route and remaining (20.00%, 21.43%, 7.69% and 26.67%) did not noticed any condition that could damage the skin/body of the animal along transportation route in all.
Table 2: Perception of butchers regarding marketing of hides and skin.
Almost 60.00%, 78.57%, 76.92% and 73.33% respectively of the butchers slaughter their animals due to animal with good body condition and pure skin, while 40.00%, 21.43%, 23.08% and 26.67% respectively of them slaughter due to animal with good body condition and pure skin in all study areas. Majority (80.00%, 78.57%, 76.92% and 86.67%) of respondents considered the look or quality of the skin when they buy hides and skins from the market and rest (30.00%, 21.43%, 23.08% and 13.33%) did not consider at all in four of the cities. Majority (100%, 85.71%, 100% and 73.33%) of the butchers keep the animals inside house until they are slaughtered in all four cities and rest of the (14.29% and 26.67%) keep the animals outside house until they are slaughtered inBadin and Sujawal. 100% of butchers care for the skin before slaughter in all four cities. Most of the respondents (100%) stated that hides and skins are important for cash income.
Perception of Hide and Skin Collection Centers on Hides and Skin
The data in (Table 3)entails the information in regards to the perceptions of hide and skin collection centers for marketing of hides and skin in the coastal areas of Sindh province of Pakistan. In all 4 study areas, majority (100%) of respondents used freshness of hides and skin as a major criteria for buying them.Majority (75.00%, 100%, 100% and 100%) of the respondents notice physical defects such as absence of flay cuts for estimation of good selling price at all for study regions. Most (75.00%, 100%, 100% and 100%) of the respondents notice freshness for determination of best-selling price in all four cities. Further, 50%, 100%, 100% and 100% of the collection centers purchased hides and skin in the last three months from middlemen in all four areas. 100% of collection centers salted hides and skins is highly demanded in the market in the last three months in all four regions. Most (100%) of the collection centers stated that the hides and skins prices is fixed in the market according to the national price in all four cities. 75%, 100%, 100% and 100% of collection centers argued that they did not face any difficulty in finding buyers when they want to sell hides and skins on urgent basis in all four cities. Almost 100% of the collection centers had opinion that the most dominant reasons for purchasing hides and skins was low price offer in all four areas. Majority (100%) of the collection centers had awareness regarding market price of hides and skins before selling-out to retailers in all four cities.
Table 3: Perception of hide and skin collection centers for marketing.
Most 50%, 100%, 100% and 100% of the collection centers get market price information of hides and skins from broker in all four areas. Almost 100% of the respondents stated that the market price varies from season to season in all four cities. Most of the (100%) respondents believed that the major reason for variation in market prices of skin and hides from season to season might be due to factory/tannery price variation / setting. However, majority (100%) of the collection centers stated that during holidays the price variation reaches high in the market.
Discussion
Hides and skins need to be preserved in the mean time until they reach their final place. This is because of the fact that they are easily damaged otherwise. Preservation is a partial dehydration of the skin. The use of salt or simply air drying is supposed to assist the process of dehydration. The objectives of preservation follow the natural process of decomposition and maintain the structure of the skin in the best possible condition. The preservation process starts from the moment the animal is skinned until the skin reaches the factory where it is going to be processed (Liulseged 2011) [8]. In view of the present finding, the study concluded that the respondents facing major constraints in marketing of skin and hides in all four cities. The most prominent constraints viz., diseases and parasites, fly cut, lack of veterinary service, drought, lack of competitive pricing, lack of transparent quality, lack of access to the market, respectively.
The major constrains faced by butchers were administrative problems, unstable, poor quality of skin and hides, storage (preservation of skin and hides by means of salted vs non salted), transportation facility, lack of handling skin and hides, hygienic condition and information flow regarding marketing of skin and hides. Findings of Addis, (2014) [9] demonstrated the major factor that caused rejection of skin and hide on wet blue skins and hides. Chaudhry et al. (2011) [10]studied the hide and skin markets and abattoirs of Lahore and Faisalabad and tanneries of Sheikhupura, Kasur and Sialkot. An aggregate of 21,671 skins and hides were inspected out of which 3918 skins and 600 hides were analyzed at the abattoirs of Lahore and Faisalabad, Skins 6784 and hides 1399 at hide markets and skins 8091 and hides 879 at tanneries. Out of aggregate 21,671 skins and hides, 66.12% were normal and 33.88% were having some sort of damage. The most widely recognized damages watched in general in all species contemplated were decay of skin 6.38%, followed in diving order watched was lesions of wounds 4.94%, old lesions of pox 4.82%, flaying cuts 3.17%, tick infestation 3.08%, lesions caused by parasites infestation 2.45%, scratches 2.33%, lesions caused by chatter fly hatchlings 1.47%, disintegration 1.32%, charr (fibrosis) 1.28%, ringworm contamination 1.10%, broad ruining by manure 0.84%, interminable abscesses 0.46%, and lice infestation 0.17%. Zenaw and Addis (2012) [11] observed 99.9 % defects. Of the aggregate skins analyzed in the study 49.2% (492/1000) fresh pickled skins were turned out to be influenced with cockle. Among the 492 skins known not cockle defects 77.23% (380/492) were sheep skins and 22.76% (112/492) were goat skins.
The species particular prevalence of cockle in sheep and goats were 76% (380/500) and 22.4% (112/500), respectively. Melkamu (2014) [12]evaluated the apparent defects and grading of hides and skins in Eastern Gojjam zone. From these, 74 (41.1%) hides, 750 (33.3%) sheep skins, 151 (31.4%) wet salted and 88 (30.9%) air dried goat skins were grade I; 90 (half) hides, 1380 (61.3%) sheep, 261 (54.4%) wet salted and 168 (58.9%) air dried goat skins were grade II; 16 (8.9%) hides, 120 (5.3%) sheep skins, 67 (14%) wet salted and 29 (10.2%) air dried goat skin were grade III; and 1 (0.2%) wet salted goat skin was grade IV. The main watched defects that downgrade the hides were messiness with a value of 142 (17.9%), gouge mark with a value of 140 (17.7%) and poor example with a value of 107 (13.5%). Zembabaet al. (2013) [12] investigated the dissemination and extent of major defects of sheep and goat skins. Defects caused by soil and blade are observed to be the most important defects of sheep and goatskins.
The most widely recognized damages watched in general in all species contemplated were decay of skin (thin skin) 6.38%, followed in diving order watched was lesions of wounds 4.94%, old lesions of pox 4.82%, flaying cuts 3.17%, tick infestation 3.08%, lesions caused by parasites infestation 2.45%, scratches 2.33%, lesions caused by chatter fly hatchlings 1.47%, disintegration 1.32%, charr (fibrosis) 1.28%, ringworm contamination 1.10%, broad ruining by manure 0.84%, interminable abscesses 0.46%, and Lice infestation 0.17%.Melkamu (2014) evaluated the apparent defects and grading of hides and skins in Eastern Gojjam zone. From these sums, 74 (41.1%) hides, 750 (33.3%) sheep skins, 151 (31.4%) wet salted and 88 (30.9%) air dried goat skins were grade I; 90 (half) hides, 1380 (61.3%) sheep, 261 (54.4%) wet salted and 168 (58.9%) air dried goat skins were grade II; 16 (8.9%) hides, 120 (5.3%) sheep skins, 67 (14%) wet salted and 29 (10.2%) air dried goat skin were grade III; and 1 (0.2%) wet salted goat skin was grade IV. The main watched defects that downgrade the hides were messiness with a value of 142 (17.9%), gouge mark with a value of 140 (17.7%) and poor example with a value of 107 (13.5%). Zembabaet al., (2013) investigated the dissemination and extent of major defects of sheep and goat skins. Defects caused by soil and blade are observed to be the most important defects of sheep and goatskins.
Conclusion
Study concludes that the respondents face various constraints in marketing of skins and hides at the coastal areas of Sindh province of Pakistan. The most prominent constraints are diseases and parasites, fly cut, lack of veterinary service, drought, lack of competitive pricing, lack of transparent quality, lack of access to the market, respectively. The major constrains faced by butchers are administrative problems, unstable, poor quality of skin and hides, storage (preservation of skin and hides by means of salted vs non salted), transportation facility, lack of handling skin and hides, hygienic condition and information flow regarding marketing of skin and hides.
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