[simj]

Can anyone categorically say whether calf leather is from young cows or if this is just a name used?

If young, any ideas about how young they are?

TY

 

[well-kept]

If young, any ideas about how young they are?
TY

You'll be much happier if you don't know, but here's some info about calf leather:

Calf Leather (aka Calfskin leather) is a type leather produced from the hide of juvenile domestic cattle (a calf). Calfskin gets its value due to its softness, very fine grain, and durability. Compared to the hides of older cattle, Calf Leather is finer grained, lighter in weight and more supple.

Definition from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calfskin

 

[misterdonuts]

I believe that the EU regulations with respect to the labelling of meat is such that calf (or veal) must be 8 months old or younger and those up to 12 months old can be described as young cow (beef). I do not know whether labelling of leather is consistent with this definition but suspect that it is not too far off.

 

[jcusey]

Yes, calfskin means leather from young cattle, at least for better-quality shoes. Leather from older cattle will be too thick and too marked-up to make decent-looking shoes unless it is embossed or grain-corrected. There is some range for the age of the animals that are used for calfskin, although I'm not sure what that range is.

 

[Crownship]

Can anyone categorically say whether calf leather is from young cows or if this is just a name used?

If young, any ideas about how young they are?

TY

Calfskin is from cattle 3-4 weeks old.
Veal leather is from cattle 3-6 months.

 

[Andy]

smji:

This is what I have in the Leather Chapter of The Encyclopedia of Men's Clothes on an easy to use CD-Rom (do you have one yet? :icon_smile_big

Calfskin - a strong, supple, fine-grained leather from young cattle, a few days to a few weeks old.
​

 

[misterdonuts]

Calfskin is from cattle 3-4 weeks old.
Veal leather is from cattle 3-6 months.

Would anyone know to which the French "veau" designation refers?

 

[well-kept]

smji:

a few days to a few weeks old

It's enough to make one a shell cordovan convert, where the horse lives its long life before being used for our sartorial pleasure.

 

[simj]

I'm with WELL KEPT on the semtiment. Doesn't seem right to slaughter cattle so we can get nice grain shoes.

I have just had a sample sent through of a calf skin that looks salivatingly good. Can't bring myself to order it though if this is true about the cattle age.

The leather is so good looking though I need to get a 100% confirmation that it is young cattle not to get it.

In my experience here on the forum there is a lot of knowledge, so I'm hoping I can get this 110% certainty.

Can anyone give any ideas where i can get this confirmation?

Thanks

 

[trims]

They're most likely being slaughtered for our dining pleasure actually.:devil:

The skins are likely a bi-product of that industry, using all possible parts of the animal.

If that makes you feel better.:icon_smile_big:

Keep in mind, that's where a good chunk of the horn material for your horn buttons comes from also, leftover bi-products of the meat industry.

 

[Crownship]

It's enough to make one a shell cordovan convert, where the horse lives its long life before being used for our sartorial pleasure.

There's a shell shortage. Better stick with the calf.:icon_smile_big:

I'm with WELL KEPT on the semtiment. Doesn't seem right to slaughter cattle so we can get nice grain shoes.

I have just had a sample sent through of a calf skin that looks salivatingly good. Can't bring myself to order it though if this is true about the cattle age.

The leather is so good looking though I need to get a 100% confirmation that it is young cattle not to get it.

In my experience here on the forum there is a lot of knowledge, so I'm hoping I can get this 110% certainty.

Can anyone give any ideas where i can get this confirmation?

Thanks

Pretty sure the calf wasn't slaughtered for it's hide only. As you said the "calf skin looks salivatingly good" I can guarantee the rest of it TASTE salivatingly good. Might as well order the shoes because somebody already ate the animal. Why let a calfs hide go to waste.:icon_smile_big:

 

[trims]

There's a shell shortage. Better stick with the calf.:icon_smile_big:

Pretty sure the calf wasn't slaughtered for it's hide only. As you said the "calf skin looks salivatingly good" I can guarantee the rest of it TASTE salivatingly good. Might as well order the shoes because somebody already ate the animal. Why let a calfs hide go to waste.:icon_smile_big:

Anybody else getting a huge craving for osso bucco or a nice veal parm hero right now?

 

[Tonyp]

Agreed. The animals entire carcass is being used, Veal chops, scallopini, osso bucco, Shoe leather, etc.. Calf leather would certainly imply from a calf. When does a calf become a cow or cattle or steer? :icon_smile_big:

 

[Stringfellow]

Agreed. The animals entire carcass is being used, Veal chops, scallopini, osso bucco, Shoe leather, etc.. Calf leather would certainly imply from a calf. When does a calf become a cow or cattle or steer? :icon_smile_big:

Well a calf becomes a steer when you cut his man-parts off. Steer = castrated bull.

 

[simj]

Basic economics of supply and demand. Some take the ' if I don't do it somebody else will' approach.

Seems weird to slaughter a calf for a type of food, which theres loads of without veal, and because of a nice type of leather, which theres loads of also.

But hey bolt it between the eyes.

 

[Leather man]

They're most likely being slaughtered for our dining pleasure actually.:devil:

The skins are likely a bi-product of that industry, using all possible parts of the animal.

If that makes you feel better.:icon_smile_big:

Keep in mind, that's where a good chunk of the horn material for your horn buttons comes from also, leftover bi-products of the meat industry.

Too true. Whilst I don't like the idea of such young animals being slaughtered it is not the leather industry that is doing this - it just benefits from the meat industry. This is why the price of calf has gone up so much because less people are eating meat. It is a myth , even lie, put about by the animal rights extremists that the shoe industry slaughters calves for their leather.

So, even if we didn't buy calf leather shoes, the poor animals would be slaughtered anyway.

This discussion is making me rethink my refusal to eat veal - I think I am a hypocrite because I do buy calf leather shoes:crazy:

 

[eagle2250]

Reading this thread is sucking the fun right out of wearing my Luchesse "baby-calf" western boots. However, the feel of those boots on the foot is truly incredible! While possibly attributable to the tanning process, the leather really is as smooth and soft as a baby's...!

 

[Crownship]

Reading this thread is sucking the fun right out of wearing my Luchesse "baby-calf" western boots. However, the feel of those boots on the foot is truly incredible! While possibly attributable to the tanning process, the leather really is as smooth and soft as a baby's...!

For some reason I'm having a hard time believing the lack of fun lasted for very long.
I'm sure as soon as you opened your closet door full of shoes you were thankful for everyone of those cattle that had to give up a life and a future and mom and running, playing and green grass and (sniff..).
Hey I felt bad for a second too. I think I'll just look over my shoulder into my shoe wardrobe and get that happy feeling all over again.:icon_smile_big:

 

[misterdonuts]

Too true. Whilst I don't like the idea of such young animals being slaughtered it is not the leather industry that is doing this - it just benefits from the meat industry. This is why the price of calf has gone up so much because less people are eating meat. It is a myth , even lie, put about by the animal rights extremists that the shoe industry slaughters calves for their leather.

So, even if we didn't buy calf leather shoes, the poor animals would be slaughtered anyway.

This discussion is making me rethink my refusal to eat veal - I think I am a hypocrite because I do buy calf leather shoes:crazy:

A bit off-topic, but I had a starter the other day that made my b******s tingle: a suckling veal (veau élévée sous la mère), which I suppose was young enough for its former skin to qualify as calfskin... Beautiful on the outside, delicious on the inside.:icon_smile_big:

Where did you hear that meat consumption has decreased? Just curious since it seems to contradict claims that a not insignificant portion of the world's increase in CO2 emission is due to the growing global demand for meat and therefore increase in the number of farmed animals such as cattle. (I recently read that the price of rat meat in Cambodia has quadrupled and that dometic and export demand (from neighbouring Vietnam) has not been impacted by the price hike...:icon_pale

Do you eat eggs?

 

[eagle2250]

For some reason I'm having a hard time believing the lack of fun lasted for very long.
I'm sure as soon as you opened your closet door full of shoes you were thankful for everyone of those cattle that had to give up a life and a future and mom and running, playing and green grass and (sniff..).
Hey I felt bad for a second too. I think I'll just look over my shoulder into my shoe wardrobe and get that happy feeling all over again.:icon_smile_big:

LOL! You have me there...I got over that spasm of conscience pretty quickly, realizing the best way I could honor the sacrifices made my those calves, would be to wear as many pairs of the shoes that resulted, as possible!