Global Veterinaria 23 (1): 01-10, 2021 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2021 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2021.01.10 Corresponding Author: Tamiru Urgessa, Liban Jawi Woreda Livestock and Fishery Resource and Development Office, Oromia, Ethiopia. E-mail: tamiruurgesa@yahoo.com. 1 Community Perception and Practices on Post Slaughter Hide and Skin Quality Management In and Around Bale Robe and Goba Tamiru Urgessa, Tilaye Demissie, Getachew Terefe and Derara Dejene 1 2 2 3 Liban Jawi Woreda Livestock and Fishery Resource and Development Office, Oromia, Ethiopia 1 College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Adds Ababa University, Ethiopia 2 Kombolcha Agricultural TVET College, Animal Health Department, Oromia, Ethiopia 3 Abstract: The raw hide and skin production in Ethiopia faced a serious challenge since hide and skins were downgraded and rejected as a result of various post mortem effects such as improper flaying, curing, collection and transportation. A questionnaire survey was conducted to study community perception and practices on post slaughter skin and hide quality management in and around Bale Robe and Goba of Oromia regional state, south central Ethiopia, from November, 2013 to April, 2014. The study was carried out on 135 livestock producers, eight municipality abattoir workers, five hide and skin collection centers and two key informants to collect data on perceptions and practices to keep hide and skill quality during flay, preserving and transporting. The result of this study showed that 85.93% livestock producers did use hoisting method for small ruminants and hoisting was common at municipality abattoir for bovine. From them, 54.07% livestock producers used curved knife for flaying while 87.5% of municipality abattoir workers have used strait knife. Out of the 135 producers interviewed, 88.1% have habit of starting of flaying after agony has been completed while 50% of abattoir workers started flaying immediately after slaughtering. 92.59% of livestock producers removed meat, fat and blood completely from hides and skin during flaying but 29.6% replied that, they did not know the effect of fat on hide and skin quality. Of those having habit of cleaning hide and skin, 58.5% of them performed cleaning using knife and 18.5% cleaned hides and skin by washing. Only 33.3% of producers used on ground drying method while 50% of the abattoir workers used frame drying method but 80% of collection centers did not use any drying methods. Mostly, 90.37% of the producers used plastic (“phestals”) for transporting hides and skin. All of key informants asked and said that, even though there is regular super vision, still there are problem of loading, shaping, absence of appropriate knives for slaughtering and flaying, absence of presentation of skin and hide to collection center at appropriate time, lack of structured hide and skin market in the area and had a problem of the fluctuating market price. Therefore, this study showed the requirement of an effective extension system and program should be implemented to raise public awareness on methods of flaying, preservation and transportation. Key words: Perceptions Practice Hide Skins Flaying Preservation Transportation Bale Goba South Central Ethiopia INTRODUCTION communities. It provides drought power, high value food, Livestock production constitutes one of the principal and manure for energy and soil fertility [1]. means of achieving improved living standards in Livestock products such as meat, milk, egg, wool, many regions of the development world. In sub-Saharan hides and skins on average accounts for 28% of African countries; livestock plays a crucial role both agricultural GDP of sub-Saharan African countries, in national economies and the livelihood of rural with wide variation between countries [2]. Hides and skin clothing, transport and serve as a source of case of cash