Production ofSkins

The annual worldwide production of raw goat skins was estimated at 1 252 000 tons in 2012, an increase of 45% from 2000 (Skapetas and Bampidis 2016). China, India, numer­ous countries in Africa, and Greece are important produc­ers of goat leather products.

The quality of the skins produced is influenced by breed, nutritional status of the goat, disease conditions affecting the skin, and traumatic injuries (e.g., from injections, thorns, and dog bites). Angora skins are considered to be unsuitable for leather production because of insufficient connective tissue (van der Westhuysen et al. 1988). Local drought conditions result in particularly weak skins. Mange, grubs, tick infestations, capripox and contagious ecthyma infections, and dermatophilosis decrease the value of goat skins. When the goat has been slaughtered, additional losses occur during flaying, drying, and storage. Humid weather predisposes to rotting, while extremely arid conditions make cracking of the skins more likely.

Goat skins are used locally for water containers, tents, mats, and leather. Others are exported as cured skins, sim­ple tanned skins, drum heads, or leather. Uses include foot­wear, garments, bookbinding, and luggage (Naidu 2000). Production could be most easily increased by limiting wastage (Holst 1987).