Hides and skins are a by-product or co-product of the food industry (cattle and sheep).
The skin is a perishable commodity which, to be used, must be handled and preserved according to very precise rules: this is the real know-how of the women and men of the sector.
SOURCE CTC
The volume of production depends on meat production. The value of the skins is less than 5% of the value of the carcass.
The variety of French leather comes from the 39 breeds of cattle and 55 breeds of sheep living on the French territory.
The origin
The weight
The sex
The defects of skinning
Presentation, i.e. dressing, salting and conservation
Destination: sole leather, upholstery leather, shoe leather, leather goods, gloves, clothing
Defects caused by external parasites: mites, lice, scabies, ringworm etc…
Natural defects or those caused by the handling of the animals
The global market