Calf Hides VS Cowhides

You’re updating your home’s look to give it a rustic, modern appeal and you’ve decided you want to incorporate cowhide into your look. Or is it calf hide that you want to use? Have you always assumed those terms are interchangeable?

Calf hides and cowhides have several distinctive differences to them. Let’s take a look at the differences for a better understanding of which you might be looking for as you move forward designing your space. We’ll share with you their specific differences, specific uses, and even a few pros and cons so you can cipher through the details as you decide what to use.

Cowhide

Cowhide is the hide of a full-grown cow. A cowhide tends to be more lightweight than many different types of hides.  For example, a real cowhide rug weighs significantly less than bull hide rugs would. Cows tend to have loose skin, allowing the hide to have more stretch and to be softer to the touch than competing hides.

A cowhide is likely to show signs of life from the cow, such as a scratch that has healed. Cows have a long life span so its natural that you would see scars on the hide, without it taking away from the beauty of the cowhide.

Cowhide rugs are typically large and very durable. You may see some shedding from a cowhide rug, but not a significant amount. The hair on cowhide is coarse but not rough.

You can find many furniture pieces, accessories, rugs, or even purses and clothing made from cowhide. Cowhide offers a rustic, modern look that is highly underrated. Cowhide is extremely versatile and can be used in many different settings or on multiple types of furniture.

Pros:

• A lightweight, durable hide option
• Versatile uses – decorate a floor with a cowhide rug, upholstered furniture, etc.
• Readily available on the market.
• Available in multiple natural colors and prints, can also be dyed or acid-washed
• Hides come from full-grown cows that have been sent to market for meat

Cons:

• May have natural scuffs, scars, and marks from the cow’s lifetime
• Readily available so many people may have the same cowhide rug as you
• Can be prone to shedding, but only lightly

Calf Hide

Calf hide, as its name might suggest, comes from a calf rather than a full-grown cow. Calf hide is popular for its super soft feel. The fibers of calfskin are tight and resistant, making it a very sturdy hide.

Calf hides are much smaller since they are coming from a young calf rather than a full-grown cow, but they are highly sought after and can be more expensive than cowhides.

Calf hides are very soft to the touch and can scuff easily, but they have overall lasting durability. Calf hides are typically imported from Europe or Brazil because they roam more freely, are unbranded, and have been cared for with oils on their skins while they were alive.

The hair on a calf is finer, making it softer and smoother to the touch in comparison to a cowhide. Since calf hide is smaller and more difficult to obtain, they are generally more unique in design. They are not as readily available as cowhide and other hide options.

Calf hide can be used in clothing, boots, furniture, and rugs much like cowhide, but it must be properly cared for in order to avoid scratches and scuffs to whatever piece you might have. Calfskin takes appropriate polishing and care to avoid scuffing or scratching it. Since calf hide tends to be more expensive you want to take the best care that you can to make it last longer and look great.

Pros:

• More likely to be unique, as it is not as readily available as cowhide
• Both smooth and sturdy
• Imported from Brazil or Europe where the calfskin was well oiled and taken care of.
• Calf hide rugs are a fine feeling material, soft to the touch
• Versatile use including calf hide rugs, handbags, boots, and clothing

Cons:

• Tend to be more expensive
• Calf hide must come from a calf, which means it is not a by-product of natural harvesting for meat.
• Can scuff or scratch easily if not properly cared for

3 Distinctive Differences

While calf hides and cowhides can be very similar, they also have some very distinct differences that set them apart from each other. There are three specific differences we are going to cover:

1. Cowhides and calf hides are distinctly different in the size of the hide. Cowhides can be significantly larger than calf hides. If you are debating between the purchase of a calf hide rug or a cowhide rug, you will want to consider the size of the space you are covering with the rug. Each one is a great option that can be versatile for multiple spaces.
2. Another distinct difference between calf hide and cowhide materials is the feel of the hair. Cowhides are a bit coarse, but not rough, while calf hides are soft and smooth to the touch. This could mean that for pillows, clothing, or even the rug it might be more comfortable to the touch to go with calf hide. That being said, cowhide is still comfortable to the touch, the coarse fibers of the hair will not make the cowhide rough to feel.
3. The 3^rd distinct difference we are going to touch on is the overall durability and care. Calf hide is more susceptible to scratching and scuffing due to the smoothness of the hide, but with proper care, it will last. Cowhide typically has some natural scuffs and scratches but they do not take away from the visual appeal.

Calf hide and cowhide are both beautiful and have their own unique versatile uses and looks. Whether you’re looking for a statement cowhide rug or a small calf hide rug or simply just want to check out boots, furniture, and accessories – either of these could be a great, viable option.