Abstract:
A study to examine the prevalence of physical defects on cattle hides was conducted from March to April 2014 with the' objective of identifying the major physical defects that lead to the rejection of cattle hides upon grading at the reception of the three hides and skins stores in Soroti municipality. A total of 360 ungraded hides (120 hides from each store) were randomly selected and examined visually for defects, The study showed that there Were different physical defects on cattle hides. The overall prevalence of defects on the examined hides was 93.1 %. With wound defects having the highest prevalence (56.7%); flay cuts (53,9%), scratches (392%), brand marks (17.8%), gouge marks (15%), Veininess (11.4%), hair slip (9.2%) and incorrect shape/ putrefaction (5.2%). Defects of pre-slaughter origin had the highest prevalence (54;8%), followed by peri-slaughter (40.7%) and lastly post-slaughter defects (4. 4%).Most of the hides examined lied in-grade 2(53.6%) followed by grade 3/rejects (39.4%) and the least number of hides lied in grade 1(6.9%). Wound defects were' responsible for most of the rejects (67.6%) followed, by flay cuts (57%), scratches (43%), brand marks (40.1%), hair slip (23.2%) and Incorrect shape (l0.6%). The study concluded that there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.1) between presence of defects on hides and rejection, Statistical analysis on, data also, showed that
there was a statistically significant relationship (P<O:1) between rejection and defects of pre-slaughter peri-slaughter and. post-slaughter origins. Therefore, there is high chance that rejection of hides may be dependent on origin of defects. The study recommended that livestock owners, abattoir and slaughter slab workers and hide collectors be made aware of the prevalence, causes. And prevention of hide defects, there is also need for rigorous training on safe handling and processing of hides in order to mitigate the physical defects on cattle hides.
