1,100,000
At Scan-Hide, we handle up to 25,000 rawhides a week. That’s more than 1,1 million hides a year. They come from abattoirs in Denmark, Sweden and Germany – and from both beef and dairy cattle.
In our business, quality depends on the surface of the hide. The cleaner and more intact it is, the higher the quality. This is all down to our climate and standards of animal welfare.
In Scandinavia and Northern Europe, the climate is mild. So cattle grazing outdoors have not been exposed to scorching sun, which hardens their hide. Nor have they endured continual exposure to parasites or mosquitoes, whose bites leave scars.
When it comes to animal welfare, farmers in this region comply with the highest standards in the world and have done so for years. The fact that their cattle have lived good lives – with proper feed and care, sufficient space, comfortable facilities and no use of barbed wires – reflects on their hides, leaving them almost clear of scars and scratches.
In this way, climate and animal welfare combine to make Nordic hides more functional for further refinement. And for our customers – who turn our hides into leather for high-end brands – exclusivity starts with the quality of the rawhide.
All our suppliers have signed a Code of Conduct to testify that they comply with the highest standards of animal welfare.Carsten Eriksen, Quality Manager – Abattoirs