Babu, N. K. Chandra (PhD)Rao, J. Raghava (PhD)Rathinam, Aravindhan (PhD)Rediate, Tsegaye2019-01-222023-11-282019-01-222023-11-282014-09http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/15921Ethiopian highland hair sheep skins have a wide importance mainly as a source of foreign exchange to the country from the leather industry. The consumption of these products is high for reasons of high quality to make glove, cabretta as well as for sport goods leathers. The present work describes the study on characterization of the Ethiopian highland hair sheep skin by carrying out histological analysis using light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Indian hair sheep skin has been used for comparing the characteristics features. Various features of the Ethiopian highland sheep and Indian red hair sheep skins such as thickness distribution of the skin, layers in the epidermal area, fibre size, fibre orientation and the interweave in the dermal area, the hair pore count and grain to corium ratio have been determined. In addition to this physico-chemical characteristics of hair sheep skins have been analyzed using different equipment and procedures. From the result of physical and chemical characteristics it could be inferred that tensile and tear strength of the leathers from Ethiopian highland hair sheep skin is higher than Indian hair sheep skins. Chemical characteristics such as the hydroxyproline content, collagen, nitrogen, glycoprotein, hide substance of the skins have been determined and in all result Ethiopia highland hair sheep skins are better compared to Indian material. From the histological, physical and chemical characteristics of the Ethiopian sheep skins, it could be inferred that the inherent character of these skins make it suitable for making of glove and cabretta leathers.en-USHighland Hair Sheep skinGloveCabrettaThesis