Why Tanning Is the Secret to a Quality Cowhide Rug

From Hide to Home: How Cowhide Tanning Affects Rug Quality

Cowhide rugs are beautiful, natural, and unique. But did you know that not all cowhides are made the same? The secret behind a soft, long-lasting, and smell-free cowhide rug is in the tanning process. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how a cowhide goes from the slaughterhouse to your living room, and why every step—especially tanning—makes a big difference.

Where Do Cowhides Come From?

If you're curious about the entire journey of a cowhide—from the moment it's collected to when it becomes a finished rug—check out our full step-by-step breakdown here: How to Make a Genuine Cowhide Rug.

Cowhides are a byproduct of the beef industry. No cows are harmed just for their hides. After cows are processed for meat, the hides are collected. But not all hides are equal.

• High-quality cowhides come from full-sized, thick, and clean skins without or with few scars or holes.
• Low-quality hides may be cut, thin, uneven, or full of scratches, making them less durable.

Choosing the right raw hide is the first step toward a beautiful rug.

What Happens After Collection?

Once the raw hide is removed, it’s packed in salt. This step is called salting. Salting helps prevent bacteria and keeps the hide from rotting during storage and shipping.

After salting, the hides arrive at Rodeo's own tannery—this is where the real transformation begins.

Tanning: The Most Important Step

At Rodeo's tannery, the hide goes through cleaning, soaking, and fleshing (removing fat and meat residue). Then comes pickling, which lowers the pH to get the hide ready to absorb tanning agents.

We use chrome tanning, a fast and effective method that keeps the hide soft, durable, and odor-free. But here’s the catch: poor tanning leads to shedding, stiffness, and bad smell. That’s why we handles every step in-house, with complete control over tanning quality.

Tanning is what turns a raw hide into soft, flexible leather. It’s the step that makes or breaks quality.

Greasing the Hide: Real vs. Fake

After tanning, the hide still needs to be greased—this step is called fatliquoring. It’s like adding lotion to keep the leather soft and strong.

There are two types of greasing:

• Synthetic oils: Cheap, fast, but may smell strong or feel waxy.
• Natural animal fat (used at Rodeo): Collected from beef processing, cleaned, and applied evenly.

We use real animal fat because:

• It’s eco-friendly (a byproduct, not petroleum-based)
• It makes the hide softer and more flexible 
• It’s safer for homes with pets or allergies 

Poor greasing = a stiff, dry hide.

Proper greasing = a cozy, long-lasting rug.

Drying the Hide: Patience Pays Off

Next, the hide is dried and stretched. Some producers use machines with heat to dry fast, but Rodeo relies on natural air-drying. Why?

• Air drying is gentler, keeping the oils in and the hide soft
• Heat drying can make the hide brittle, curled, or smelly

Drying slowly lets the hide settle into its shape and texture. It’s the final step to lock in all the quality work from before.

Final Steps: Trimming, Polishing, and Packing

After drying, each hide is trimmed into a clean shape, buffed for shine, and inspected by hand. We only offers hides that pass the test for:

• Softness
• Sheen
• No odor
• Natural beauty

Why Tanning Quality Really Matters

Here’s the truth: you can’t see tanning with your eyes, but you can feel it every day.

• A well-tanned hide won’t shed
• It won’t stink
• It will stay flat and soft for years

Cheap rugs cut corners during tanning and greasing. At Rodeo, we take the time to do it right—from selecting hides to using real oils to letting the hides dry naturally.

Final Thoughts: Buying a Cowhide? Ask About Tanning

If you’re shopping for a cowhide rug, don’t just look at the pattern. Ask: Was it chrome tanned? Was it greased with real oils? Was it air dried?

At Rodeo, we believe a great rug starts with great tanning. And now you know why.