Irish saddle leather sought after

Already a world-class horse producer, Ireland is becoming more important as a raw material source for saddle leather, according to Bord Bia.

Sabrina King, in the Food Board’s Paris Office, has reported that France no longer has the level of calfskin quality that French leather manufacturers are looking for, and French saddle manufacturers such as CWD and Devoucoux are importing calfskin from Ireland or Germany on a regular basis, due to the high Irish and German reputation for leather quality.

“In a country that follows the ‘made in France’ ethos, one would think France would be a haven for French leather produce,” said Sabrina.

However, CWD has now put in place a €440,000 incentive policy to help French farmers improve the quality of calf skins they supply to the leather goods industry.

Calfskin breeders are guaranteed €40 per skin, if they agree to supply their skins to CWD for four years, are the owner of the livestock since birth, and breed more than 40 head a year.

They can also register for an investment program which allows farmers to install electric fences around their farms, instead of barbed wire.