**2.2 Processing of animal products**

Animal slaughter involves many stages, and there are several procedures and legislative requirements involved however, several methods are used in processing animal products in abattoirs [23]. The type of method used is dependent on the desired products. The following methods of animal products processing is common in Lagos state, Nigeria.

Boiling: Animal skin (known as ponmo in the Nigeria) is dipped into hot water to soften it so the hair can be more easily removed. To further soften the cow skin, it is steeped in water for several hours after being shaved, which induces a brief period of fermentation. The result of this procedure is ponmo of the white variety.

Burning: This is one of the most prevalently used methods for cow skin. In this technique, the animal skin is first softened by being put into a fire, at which point the hair is singed off and the softening process may begin. Used tires are used to create the flame, and other petrochemical agents (such kerosene, diesel, or gasoline) are often added to increase the intensity of the fire (**Figure 2**). This procedure yields the brownish ponmo [24].
