Histomorphometrical Characterization of Skin of Native Cattle (Bos Indicus) in Bangladesh

The study conducted on the skin of native cattle (Bos indicus) in Bangladesh involved 12 cattle (6 males and 6 females) and aimed to understand regional and sex variations in skin components. Histomorphometric analysis showed that the mean thicknesses of the epidermis, papillary layer, reticular layer, and total skin were 45.37 ± 0.59 µm, 0.55 ± 0.01 mm, 3.03 ± 0.09 mm, and 3.57 ± 0.09 mm, respectively, with the thickest skin found in the neck and shoulder regions and the thinnest in the loin. Hair follicle density was highest in the back and lowest in the ventral abdomen. The study concluded that male skin might be more suitable for quality leather production due to its characteristics, and the ventral abdomen, with its compact collagen bundles, could be ideal for leather, although the collagen percentage was not measured.