PROGRESSIVE BEEF CATTLE RAISING 



operation, all parts cut from it being kept in the same 

 order until the Government inspector has finally passed 

 it. Armour and Company is very proud of the rigid and 

 efficient inspecting force from the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry which supervises the killing and meat prepara- 

 tion in its plants. After the heads have been removed 

 the cattle are moved out from the sticking rail and are 

 laid down on the floor with the feet in the air. The fore 

 and hind legs are skinned out and unjoin ted at the knee 

 and hock. The legs are sent down another chute to be 

 made into combs, knife handles and glue. The hide is 

 then opened down the center of the belly and skinned off 

 the sides by a set of very expert workmen who with one 

 stroke turn back the hide from the belly to the floor. The 

 cattle are then hooked through the hocks and partially 

 raised from the floor, the middles opened, the entrails 

 removed, placed in a sterilized moving pan and inspected. 

 While this is going on other men skin out the rump and 

 pull the hide free from the round. Extreme care is needed 

 in working here as the hide from the rump makes the very 

 best grade of leather, and any cuts cause serious loss. The 

 tails are skinned out and started on the road to the soup 

 factory. The carcass is then raised completely, the hide 

 removed from the back and "hide droppers" follow to 

 remove the skin entirely from the legs and shoulders. 

 The carcass is now split through the center of the back 

 bone from tail to neck by means of long cleavers and so 

 accurate is the work that jagged cuts and bone splinters 

 are very rare. The split carcass passes on a moving 

 trolley, is given a thorough scrubbing with warm water 

 and brushes, wiped dry and sent white and clean to the 

 last Government inspector. If no disease has been found 

 in any part of the animal it is stamped, "U. S. Inspected 

 and Passed," and sent to the coolers. If infection is 

 found the carcass is switched onto the Government rail 

 and a thorough examination made. Condemned meat 

 is so stamped and kept under Government lock until 



Page Seventy-five 



