Survey of incidence of various surface defects in goat and sheep skin in Madras

Abstract

23,429 goat skins and 37,026 sheep skins were examined to find out the incidence of various surface defects in them. 33.44 percent of goat skins and 14.6 per cent of sheep skins were found to be affected in quality. Major defects common to both goat and sheep skins were abscess, fire-mark and psoroptosis. In addition to the above common defects demodecosis and sheep pox appreciably deteriorated the quality of goat and sheep skins respectively. Seasonal variation in the incidence of the major defects were also studied.