Types of raw hides & skins
Cattle, sheep, goats and pigs provide the majority of hides and skins for the world wide needed amounts for the leather producing industry.
The hides and skins of horses, reptiles, lizards and snakes as well as those of fishes are available in smaller quantities and generally not traded world wide. The importance of such hides for the leather production is only significant to designated regions, which are basically the natural environment of these animals. Often the special shape or the particular exotic features of the skins require a unique know how of the tanner.
The skins of untamed animals, like antelopes, chamois, red deer, reindeer, elks, kangaroos, hares and rabbits are usually obtained by hunting, causing defects and damage to the hides, although the farming of deer skins, in particular, has increased. Skins of camels and ostriches are usually from farmed animals. These skins are turned into a variety of articles, e.g. shoes, garments, gloves, bags and leather goods.
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Cattle hides
These raw hides represent about 65 %* of world's leather production. All provenances and qualities of cattle hides are used for the production of leather, i.e. calf, heifer, cow, steer, bull, ox as well as zebu and buffalo.
The hides thickness of 3 - 15 mm, a surface of 0.6 - 5.5 qm and the available quantities make it the preferred material for almost any article that is produced out of leather, e.g. shoes, bags, upholstery, garments and technical leathers.
Sheep skins
Representing about 17 %* of world's leather production, all provenances and qualities of sheep skins are used for the production of leather. The raw skins of these species offer an enormous variety of different skin structures. Beside meat, the main product of sheep farming is wool and due to the immense amount of hair roots and fat cells within the skin the structure is relatively weak. Therefore and also because of the thickness of 1 - 3 mm and a size of 0.3 - 1.0 qm, sheep skins are used for articles which do not require high physical properties like tear and tensile strength or size, e.g. garments, lining, bookbinding leathers. Furthermore shoes are made, but this use requires breeds with a better skin structure.
Goat skins
About 9 %* of world's leather production is covered by goat skins.
All provenances an qualities of goat skins are used for the production of leather.
Even though the size of 0.2 - 0.9 qm and a thickness of 1 - 2 mm are similar to sheep skins, the structure of goat skins is very much firmer. Therefore goat skins are suitable for articles which demand distinct physical properties, e.g. shoes, garments, protective clothing, lining and leather goods.
Pig skins
With a share of about 8 %* of world's leather production pig skins play a minor, but yet important role. In some countries the skin belongs to the daily nutrition, preventing these hides being processed into leather. In general the skins are from adult domestic pigs or wild boar.
Pig skins have some histological peculiarities, for instance it is the only animal skin, with hairs penetrating the entire cross section, resulting in "perforated" leathers. The skin consists of 2 areas with different structures with a more compact and tight back part. The special structure of the skins, a thickness of 2 - 5 mm and the size of 1.2 - 1.5 qm. make these skins useful for, e.g. shoes, garments, lining and leather goods. The most useable wild boar skin is the so called Peccary, a water hog located in South America, that is rather small, but due to the living conditions these skins have severe damage. The main use is for garments and gloves.
Horse hides
This group includes the hides of domestic and wild horses, as well as donkeys. The main use is for shoes, garments and technical leathers, while the tighter structured parts can also be used for sole leather.
Reptile skins
Skins of crocodiles, alligators and caymans are to a large extend provided by farms. A distinctive feature of these skins is the bony layer within the skin that forms a protective shield.
Specially in the case of older animals this unique feature is pronounced and therefore only younger animals are suitable for the making of leather. These leathers are used for luxury leather goods, bags and also shoes.
Lizard and snake skins
Skins of lizards and snakes have most different surface structures and color patterns, due to the large number of sorts. These leathers are used mainly for leather goods, belts and bags.
Fish skins
There are 2 different types of fish skins. Skins of sharks and rays have a tough siliceous layer on the surface, while the more sensitive skin of fishes like cod, pollock or haddock is covered by scales. Due to the weak structure, size and texture of the surface these leathers they are preferably used for trimmings of fashionable garments.
*Source: FOA-Statistic, USA 2003, www.fao.org
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