Is the leather used for clothing really a by-product of the meat industry, or are different cows involved?

Question

What about lamb and sheepskin/wool?

Answer 1

In general yes it's the same cow for both.

The shoes I walk in, I am pretty sure were made from the skin of an animal that was slaughtered primarily for food.

That is the norm. If you are in the abattoir business you want to make the biggest profit from every animal that passes your way.

So what is passed for human consumption goes to us, bits of the other stuff goes into domestic animal food, yes this includes family pets and in some cases farm animals including cows.

Before anyone gets on their high horse how many keep fish? What is your fish food made of?

The skins are then used for leather products and this is not just cows. I don't know the full list but there are many animal carcases used in the leather industry.

Your question shows concern and it should because not all animals killed for their skin to be used in clothing are also part of the human diet.

Answer 2

Any good slaughterhouse business has markets to take care of everything it produces
but with changing supply and demand sometimes some stuff does get wasted - but such is usually a very temporary situation

I know of no current industrial site that uses raised cow or lamb/sheep only for the leather

Now individuals - that can be a different story - some people are indeed stupid

Answer 3

Much of what meat animals produce is reused in some way, so yes, the leather from sheep and cows are used for shoes, coats, pants etc. The other meat parts and organs are used for dog food or other markets and the bones for bone meal and fertilizers.

Answer 4

Yes. "Most of the millions of animals slaughtered for their skin endure the horrors of factory farming before being shipped to slaughter, where many may be skinned alive. When you buy leather you are supporting factory farms and slaughterhouses since skin is the most economically important byproduct of the meat industry."

Answer 5

Different cows are involved. It would make obvious sense to use the same ones, but they don't. Because they are without reason. Check it out with Animal Aid.

Answer 6

Yes of course, They are hardly gonna kill one cow for its meat and then skin a different one for leather.

Answer 7

yes...they use just about every single part of an animal once its slaughtered... lambs & sheep included.

Answer 8

Leather can be the skin of Any animal. Even goats and leopards. :)

Answer 9

WTF.....lol....go and lay down till the nurse gets to you!