Leather?

RoCas

Do old leather backed animals get wrinkled like humans? Fancy a wrinkly sofa?

TheImportanceOfBeingIdle

RoCas wrote: »

Do old leather backed animals get wrinkled like humans? Fancy a wrinkly sofa?

The manufactureresreres of nivea anti wrinkle cream aint complainin.

OverlandLandy

Ophie wrote: »

Does anyone know....

a) If this is the right place for this question... if not can you let me know where I should put it

and

b) I am trying to find some leather from animals who have died of old age not killed for meat. Well ideally I am trying to find a sofa made from this leather. Does anyone know if such a product actually exists? If so... could you point me in the right direction of where to find it and buy it?

Ta!

I doubt it - Old Cows tend to have marked hide where they rub against fences, barbed wire etc.... So no Tannery would treat it.

I guess the only way would be if someone had a 'pet cow'...but that would be really morbid...a bit like when your dog dies and you have it stuffed....spooky (Have you read Pet Cemetery...?)

Have you thought of PVC?:D

rdwarr

Quasar wrote: »

While I do not presume to speak for Ophie, I think you'll find that this would be acceptable her. What she means is that she doesn't want skins from animals just killed for our convenience (food) or sport.

Oh, I see what you mean. How could this happen though? Who would farm animals in such a manner? Sadly the type of cows used to make sofas don't live in the wild.

MrSmartprice

Farm animals rarely die of old age. This idea is too ridiculous for words!

When an animal is at the end of its useful life it will be dispatched. Likewise if it is uneconomical to pay a vet to treat it for a problem. This is whether or not it is destined to enter the food chain. Those that don't are usually destined for the petfood and fertiliser industry.

Animal hides are part of the by-product industry and I believe it makes little difference what became of the animal at this stage of the process. In other words all hides will end up at the same tannery and be graded on quality.

rdwarr

perfectlypoor wrote: »

she doesn't mean keep the animal in pain she just means use the animal once it has died of natural causes not kill it for that purpose

Isn't that the same thing though? If you see an animal in agony is it best to put it out of its misery immediately or leave it to die naturally over a few days?

Quasar

rdwarr wrote: »

Oh, I see what you mean. How could this happen though? Who would farm animals in such a manner? Sadly the type of cows used to make sofas don't live in the wild.

I know, which is why Ophie had to ask here because it's obviously not an easy sort of leather to find. I don't think she will be successful, but who knows...

Quasar

rdwarr wrote: »

Isn't that the same thing though? If you see an animal in agony is it best to put it out of its misery immediately or leave it to die naturally over a few days?

Yes rdwarr, but that would still count as a natural death, albeit via humane put down - it would not be a death due to wanton killing for food or sport (as per one of my previous posts).

perfectlypoor

rdwarr wrote: »

Isn't that the same thing though? If you see an animal in agony is it best to put it out of its misery immediately or leave it to die naturally over a few days?

it can still be put down if it gets ill or anything you would use the skin once it was dead.

OverlandLandy

perfectlypoor wrote: »

she doesn't mean keep the animal in pain she just means use the animal once it has died of natural causes not kill it for that purpose

This is a bit of a juxtaposition ...if you leave a cow to die of old age it will contribute massively toward global warming via Methane emissions!

It is better to think of leather as a bi-product from Meat and milk production(a bit like Veal Calves....no one likes that trade....but everyone still drinks Cows Milk). Its all a fact of life. Cows are generally well looked after...and are generally killed at 18 months. The only exception is the like of Highland Cattle.

That (joking apart) could be a source of what you are looking for as their thick coats protect them from a lot of scratches etc....and they would not all be killed at 18 months old. Also (while the Beef is Excellent) that is generally not why they are raised.