INVESTIGATION ON HIDES AND SKINS QUALITY DEFECTS FROM PRODUCTION TO PROCESSING IN BAHIRDAR-ETHIOPIA I Getnet Ayehu, 2Mussie Hailemelekot, 3Kassa Bayou 'Livestock Development and Promotion Agency, Amhara National Regional State, Bahir Dar 2Bahir Dar University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences .Bahir Dar 3Livestock Development and Marketing Program, Addis Abeba Hides and skins are the basic raw materials for the leather industry, and have a wide importance mainly as a source of foreign currency to the country. The consumption of these products is low for reasons of low quality due to a range of limitations imposed by poor production at different stages of the whole process, i. e. pre- slaughter and post-slaughter defects. The objectives. of the study were to investigate the hide and skin quality defects from production to processing, in the study area which are hindering development of the leather sector. The study was conducted with both physical observation of animals and collecting data and information using semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 1152 animals which include 384 cattle, 384 sheep and 384goat were physically observedfor ant mortem defects. Peri and post slaughtering defects were collected from retrospective data at municipal and export abattoirs, local collectors and wholesalers, and from tanneries. Focus group discussions were employed in three nearby districts where animals are drawn to Bahir Dar livestock market. Secondary data was also collectedfrom respective offices. The data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software, version 17. Descriptive statistics were also used to analyze mean, proportions. Chi-square (X)) was used to test the association of species and defects. In all the analysis, comparisons having p<O. 05 were considered to have statistically significant difference. The major ante mortem defects identified on cattle in Bahir dar town livestock market were, yolk lash (91.10%) followed by scare (22.30%) and brand mark(13.54%). In sheep the defects observed were poor substance (13.50%), urine and dung (13.28%), and stain mark (7.20% ).In goats, scratch (17.4%) and poor substance (8.30%). The overall ante mortem defects in this study was found 46.87%). Analysis of the data indicated that there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in the prevalence of defects between cattle, sheep and goats. Peri slaughtering defects identified in cattle hide were, siding (35%), leftover meat (24%), bruise (19%), incomplete bleeding (10%) and hole (5%). In sheep were, leftover meat (25%), siding (20%) and hole (4%). The overall slaughtering defects was (92.02%). Analysis of the data showed that there was statistically , significant difference (P<0.05) in the proportion of defects among cattle and sheep. The major post slaughtering defects of cattle hides in collection and preservations were incomplete bleeding (17.80%), leftover meat (16.20%,) flay cuts (15. 20%), dirtiness (14.60%), petrifactions (10.20%,and hole (9.40%). In sheep were flay cuts(13.46%), leftover meat (11.76%), petrifactions (5.76%) and hole (5%).In goats leftover meat (5.07%), flay cuts (4.23%), hole (3.65%), and petrifactions (3.55%). The overall defects in collection and preservation was (32.85%).Analysis of the data indicated that there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in defects among cattle hides, sheep and goat skins. At Bail' Dar tannery the common defects in cattle hide were, flay cut and hole (22.20%), petrifaction (17.50%), bruising (12.50%), brand (16.40%). In sheep skin ,flay cut (15.8%), petrifactions (15% )and ekek (18.60%) were the dominant defects where as in goat skin ekek (27.50%), scratch (22%) .flay cuts (10%) purifications (8%). Overall defects was (63.68 %). Analysis of the data indicated that there was no I statistically significant difference (P>0.05) between cattle hides, sheep and goat skins .. Therefore, to reduce hides and skins defect, awareness creation among stakeholders ,capacity building for all actors in the chain, strengthening the extension service on live animals and hide and skin management, establishment of appropriate stores by hides & skins collectors and suppliers, introducing grading practices as well as the system of payment by grade and apply integrated efforts towards the development of hide and skin were recommended.