Africa-Press – Tanzania. ABATTOIR operators will need to ensure all skinners in slaughter houses are trained and licensed to boost the production of high quality hides which can easily secure domestic and international markets.
Director of the Department of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Stanford Ndibalema, said this during a two-day meeting with experts held in Singida Region recently.
Dr Ndibalema said the quality of hides usually depended on how livestock was kept in terms of shelter, feeds, vaccination and timely dipping.
Recognising the importance of hides, the director said a law and regulations had been enacted, requiring livestock skinners to be formalised to increase the quality and market value of hides.
“The majority of slaughter houses are coordinated by the local government, thus, they should supervise the exercise to ensure there is compliance with the directives of training and licensing for the betterment of livestock keepers and the nation,” said Dr Ndibalema.
Mara Regional Veterinary Officer Denis Ishengoma said for better animal health and products, training of livestock keepers and skinners was extremely important.
Mr Ishengoma stressed a need for setting aside a budget for the improvement of the health of livestock.
According to him, although there is high production of hides in the country, the majority of them are of low quality due to poor skinning skills.
For his part, Morogoro Veterinary Officer Gasper Msimbe said the Livestock Identification, Registration and Traceability Act, 2010 provided for specific areas for keeping animals to minimise losses.
“For compliance’s sake, the responsible ministry should introduce guidelines on livestock keeping, slaughtering and skinning to add value to hides,” noted Mr Msimbe.
In-charge of the South Western Zonal Veterinary Centre, Dr Kaini Kamwela, said time had come for the country to come up with a good market strategy for the production of hides to obtain the market outside the country.
