Originally establishing the standards for ostrich skins, the Klein Karoo Cooperative (KKLK) held a monopoly as the exclusive supplier of this unique product. This period of strict supply control shifted in the early 1990s when the industry opened up, resulting in a global surge in the number of slaughtered birds. South Africa witnessed a doubling of numbers in a brief span. However, instead of cultivating new markets in tandem with the increased supply, new entrants opted to saturate existing markets. This transformed the market dynamics from a seller’s to a buyer’s market, with numerous players vying for attention from a limited pool of buyers.
To address this shift, NOPSA (National Ostrich Processors South Africa) established basic grading criteria for both selling prices and payments to producers. Grading in the crust stage provides producers with optimal pricing, although this method extends the payment period to producers. As the industry developed, many producers turned to exporting their skins to international tanneries via traders, necessitating a pre-shipment payment system.
An effective grading system is essential to incentivize farmers to produce high-quality skins and enable sellers to maximize prices. At current market rates, the difference in value between a grade 1 and a grade 4 skin can equate to the total feed costs of a slaughtered bird, emphasizing the importance of producers prioritizing skin quality.
The existing grading system primarily relies on scars and blemishes, with additional penalties for poorly developed follicles and undersized skins. However, there’s a need for clear and universally accepted classifications based on parameters like follicle size, skin dimensions, thickness, and whether the skin is from a mature cull breeder or a prime slaughter bird.
Tanneries report significant variations in skin quality among farmers, with some exhibiting poor structures that pose challenges during the tanning process. The application of the same grading criterion across all classes will inevitably be market-driven, relying on the skills of marketers to identify new markets and generate demand. The development of classes will be an iterative process.
A standardized grading system for both finished and crust ostrich leather is essential, reflecting the leather’s cutting value and aiding buyers in procuring the quality necessary for specific product manufacturing. Grading serves a dual purpose: setting producer payment and determining finished leather prices.
Categories
Finished Skins: Tannery for buyer
Graded Crust: Tannery to pay buyer or farmer buying crust skins
Graded Green: Tannery to pay Farmer or Trader
Graded Green: Trader to pay Farmer (Note: Categories 1 and 2 adhere to the same standards.)
General Definitions for All Grading Systems
The Skin
The crown, characterized by quill markings, excludes the neck down to the wing folds and the flank areas. For grading purposes, the crown area is divided into four quarters, as illustrated in Figure 1 on the ostrich skin diagram. The vertical line “A-B” runs from the base of the neck between the wing folds to the bottom of the crown, while the horizontal line “C-D” stretches between the broadest quill patterns found on both sides of the crown region. Unless otherwise specified by the buyer, skins are cut according to Figure 2.
Defects
Defects come in various sizes, with three circular sizes defined: 40, 80, and 120 mm in diameter. These can include holes or cuts through the skin, scars, scratches, loose scabs, a rough surface, loose grain, bacterial damage, disease, tick bites, and wrinkles on the crown area. All defects, regardless of size or healing status, are considered for grading, as they influence the value to the customer.
Torn
A torn skin, where the tear extends into the crown, results in a downgrade by one grade.
Opening Lines
Figure 1 displays the ideal shape of the removed skin, and Figure 2 illustrates the cutting lines on the bird. If the difference in length between the upper flank “E” and lower flank “F” affects cutting value, it may result in a downgrade by one grade.
Genetically Caused Defects
Grain definition not resembling that of farmed ostriches, extensive hair follicles, and prominent vein marks are regarded as defects and impact grading.
Quill Development
Extensive occurrence of underdeveloped quills in more than two quarters leads to a downgrade by one grade.
Skin Sizes
Read More: What are the different grades of ostrich skin available in wholesale markets?
Different size groups are designated by the following areas of skins:
A+ = 156+ square decimetres
A = 130 to 155 square decimetres
B = 120 to 129 square decimetres
C = 100 to 119 square decimetres
D = 80 to 99 square decimeters
Trimming
Trim the neck through the distinctive line where the quill area ends, and the leg through the last distinctive line (10cm) above the middle of the knee.
Tannery Grading – Finished and Crust Skins
Super Premium
An impeccably flawless hide with no visible defects in all four quarters or the surrounding hide.
Premium
All four quarters are defect-free, with the area outside the crown possibly having a few less visible defects.
Grade One
At least three quarters must be defect-free. One defect (excluding a hole) in any quarter, if no larger than 40mm in diameter, is permitted.
Also allowed: one healed wound no larger than the distance between two quills on the crown, and a small number of visible defects outside the crown area.
Grade Two
At least two continuous quarters must be defect-free.
Permitted: one defect in any two adjacent quarters, no larger than 80mm in diameter; two defects in any two adjacent quarters, each no larger than 40mm in diameter; two healed wounds, each no larger than the distance between three quills on the crown; a few visible defects outside the crown area.
Grade Three
At least one quarter must be defect-free.
Permitted: one defect in any one of three quarters, no larger than 120mm in diameter; two defects in any of the three quarters, one no larger than 80mm and the other no larger than 40mm in diameter; three defects in any one of three quarters, each no larger than 40mm in diameter; three healed wounds, each no larger than the distance between four quills on the crown area; some visible defects outside the crown area.
Grade Four
A skin with grading outside the norm for third-grade skin, but the affected crown area is no larger than 25% of the total crown area. The affected skin area should not be larger than 50% of the total skin area.
Grade Five
A skin with the affected crown area smaller than 50% of the total crown area. The affected skin area should not be larger than 50% of the total area.
Lesser Grade
Any skin with defects worse than those defined in Grade 5.
Tannery Grading for Green Skins
The following applies to all grades for both Green Grading Systems:
Well-cured (poor curing can lead to downgrade or rejection)
Minimum and maximum size determined by the buyer, depending on the market serviced
Correct opening lines as per Figure 2 unless the buyer provides different instructions. Poor shape can lead to a lowering in grade or complete rejection
Mature Follicle Development (maybe a reason for downgrade by one or two grades)
Skins free of “red heat” (Halophilic Bacteria)
Grade 1
All four quarters are defect-free, and the non-quill area is free of defects.
Grade 2
At least three quarters must be defect-free.
Permitted: one defect in any quarter, no larger than 40mm in diameter; one healed wound no larger than the distance between two quills on the crown; a small number of visible defects outside the crown area.
Grade 3
At least two continuous quarters must be defect-free.
Permitted: one defect in any two adjacent quarters, no larger than 80mm in diameter; two defects in any two adjacent quarters, each no larger than 40mm in diameter; two healed wounds no larger than the distance between three quills each on the crown area; a few visible defects outside the crown area.
Grade 4
Any skins not meeting the criteria outlined in Grades 1 to 3.
Trader Grading
Grade 1 – Top Price
Reasonable condition with no major defects, holes, or feather pecking.
Grade 2 – Low Price
Some defects, but no holes or serious feather pecking.
Grade 3/Reject – No Payment
Severe scarring, one or more holes, not cut properly, poor shape, or feather pecked.