[Jim Steel]

Hi folks. Hope I've put this post in the right place.
So. We produce Rose Veal, primitive breed Lamb and rare breed Pork. We like to use as much of the animal as possible.
Currently we are using Devonia to tan our sheep skins..
What we would like to do is utilise our calf skins but Devonia aren't in a position to do them. Neither could they give any recommendations.
I was in contact with Skye Skins but they will not be tanning for outsiders till September.
I had a thought that maybe someone who tans deer skins might be able to do the calf skins.
Just wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction.
Based in Scotland so home tanning is not an option I believe.
Thanks.

[SallyintNorth]

One of the folks here researched this for our steers and ended up sending the skin to Italy.  .  It was a beautiful job but we’d need to get £300 for them to make it worthwhile.  Not sure there’s a market at that price! 

If you do come up with somewhere more local and less costly, please let us know!

[Clarebelle]

Just out of interest, why is it not possible to home tan because your in Scotland? I have home tanned sheep skins up here, just wondering if it's something to do with calf skins specifically?

I watched a programme once that had a segment about a company down in devon (I think) who were one the last companies to make leather using oak tannins or something similar, can't remember the name of the company now but a google of 'oak tanning uk' might yield something

[Perris]

have you considered turning it into parchment instead?

[Fleecewife]

Try Nicki Port in Hereford:  https://www.organicsheepskins.com .  She did a deer skin for us a long time ago, but even if she doesn't do calfskins, she may have information on who does.

[Jim Steel]

Clarebelle. I have been hunting for the regulation. I did find it before but can't seem to trace it now. Basically in Scotland you are not permitted to bring the hides back to the holding of origin. I suspect its for disease control. However there is a derogation in place in England.
Fleecewife. I have found an abattoirs in Hull and have emailed them. Awaiting a reply.

[Clarebelle]

Ahh, ok! I wasn't aware of that regulation in Scotland. Luckily we home slaughter so not an issue

[YorkshireLass]

Clarebelle. I have been hunting for the regulation. I did find it before but can't seem to trace it now. Basically in Scotland you are not permitted to bring the hides back to the holding of origin. I suspect its for disease control. However there is a derogation in place in England.
Fleecewife. I have found an abattoirs in Hull and have emailed them. Awaiting a reply.

Would you mind updating us if/when you get a response? 

[mtcraymond]

How old/ big are these skins,.?
You have options but they are expensive... Sheepskin sized skins are possible cowhide not unless you want to pay £300 ish..
No one tans deer in the UK commercialy anymore I'm afraid, although we hope to change that soon..

[Rosemary]

[member=37976]Jim Steel[/member] Did you ahve any joy with this? I saw some nice cattle skins at the Royal Highland Show - enquiry revealed that they were form Brazil.
We have two nice red and white calves this year and I'd love to have their skines tanned in a coupel fo years when they go for beef.

[Jim Steel]

Hi Rosemary.
The simple answer is no.
However I have been given the name of a chap who tans deer hide and runs classes etc. I've just been too damned busy to follow it up. I'll let you know how I get on.

[Clarebelle]

I watched the royal welsh show on the telly last night and they did an interview piece with a lady in wales who tans cattle hides. She said she also couldn't find anywhere in the UK to do them so they set up doing it themselves. Unfortunately I didn't hear a name and she didn't specify whether they do a tanning service or will only tan their own hides.

[Bionic]

There is a new place on the Carmarthenshire/Pembrokeshire border called Welsh Organic Tannery. This might be who Clarebelle was referring to. I don't know what they tan but have seen sheep and goat. It might be worth a look

[Backinwellies]

There is a new place on the Carmarthenshire/Pembrokeshire border called Welsh Organic Tannery. This might be who Clarebelle was referring to. I don't know what they tan but have seen sheep and goat. It might be worth a look

Not cattle sadly

[SallyintNorth]

Crikey, £360 plus whatever the abattoir charges for the skin, salting and courier to deepest Wales.  (Hopefully one gets the plastic container back.)

Not much room for a profit for the smallholder, is there?  Or will people really pay £500-ish for one?

(But it’s great that there is somewhere doing it.)