Sheep skins are used to make a variety of sheep skin leather products. They are found in soft wool-lined products such as gloves, hats, footstools, baby rugs and pelts (sheepskin rugs and seat covers) as well as automotive seat covers. Other popular products include sheep skin saddle seat covers, saddle pads and sheep skin horse boots. The hides of sheep and lambs are also used in tack linings and girth tubes.

Australian Ugg boots represent one of the most popular products derived from sheep skins. The boots are widely used during wintertime in Australia and New Zealand.

Testing of sheep skins has confirmed many medical advantages. It helps in prevention and treatment of ulcers. One of the characteristic features considered by medical professionals is that the wool from the sheep skins is hypoallergenic. The wool from the sheep skin has an excellent insulating property which makes it resistant to flame and also static electricity.

The selection of the hide depends on the quality of the skin of the sheep. The quality of the skin depends on many factors used in each application, mostly depending on the pelt. Pelt is the back of the hide and the quality is identified on whether the pelt is visible or not. Better quality hide is used which has minimal seed and where the pelt is visible.

The wool is usually not usable when it shows marks that the animal contracted skin diseases or sustained injuries in the course of its life. The same applies if louse infection, dead wool or re growth are detected.

Another issue that influences the quality of sheep skin relates to seed contamination. When an animal recovers from a seed burrow wound, it creates patches of scars tissue remain. During the transformation process, the scar tissue can either fall off or remain in place. In the first case, it results in holes in the sheep skin. In the second, the scar tissue leaves imperfections and permanently damages the pelts.

There are five grades of seed contamination:

1. No visible seed: The pelt does not show any visible sign of seed contamination.

2. Light seed: Slight seed contamination but visible in wool.

3. Medium seed: Light seed contamination can be observed on most of the surface.

4. Heavy seed: The majority of the surface shows heavy seed contamination.

5. Burry: The wool is contaminated by uneven degrees of hard seed varying from light to heavy contamination.

Sheep skins are classified according to their quality and grade. To meet their customers’ needs and ensure the highest standards, producers use a meticulous method to process them. Hides are tanned with the fleece intact, a process slightly different than the one used with common leather. Sheep skins are then packed and, the wool can be sold in standardized lengths.

Aln B. Stables tardes in all types of cow hides and sheep skins. He mainly sells those of European or South American origin to tanneries in China.