Page 200 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Properly processed and value-added by-products can be exported and therefore
help economic growth of the country. Handling of livestock by-products is also
important for environmental protection. By processing the by-products, it also helps
to control environmental pollution. The use of livestock by-products such as bones
or skins helps to get rid of pollutants in the environment and reduces the cost of

waste disposal.
The coming sections, discuss the processes of handling of hides and skins, blood,
bones, milk by-products, fats, offals as well as manure.

Handling of hides and skins
When cattle, goats and sheep are slaughtered, obvious by-products are the hides or

skins. It is called hide when it is from large animals, for example, cattle. When it is
from small animals, for example, sheep and goats, it is called skin. They are very
valuable by-products because of their uses. Hides and skins are used in making all
leather materials such as shoes, clothes, bags, car seats and many more items. Skin
and hides also produce gelatine and glues. Collagen derived from hides and skins is
used as an emulsifier in meat products because of its ability to bind large quantities
of fat and outer covering of capsules. There is a wide range of products made from

leather.
Handling of hides and skin before slaughter: Proper handling and care of hides
and skins begins long before the animal reaches slaughter weight. Good quality
hides and skin come from animals that are:

(a) Raised on good quality feeds: Good nutrition gives better hides and skins.
(b) In good health: Control of external body parasites and maintenance of proper
health practices give better hides and skins.
(c) Properly branded: Hot iron brands that are badly placed on the body can

completely destroy the quality of hides and skins. This is one of the most
serious and damaging problem on hides and skins in East Africa. Whenever,
possible avoid hot-iron branding. If hot-iron branding is inevitable, care should
be observed to brand only on the recommended parts of an animal (refer to
Figure 8.15).

Student’
Student’s Book Form Twos Book Form Three
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