002 FARM ANIMALS 
fore the knife is inserted for bleeding. The steer must 
first be fastened to a post or tree in order to avoid excite- 
ment and danger. Often the rifle is used to kill both 
steers and hogs. Unless the rifleman is a crack shot, 
this practice is cruel; another objection results in the 
penetration of the cartridge into the meat, often causing 
taint or trouble in curing. The stunning ax is a more 
humane way and is just as effective. The blow should 
be directed at the center of the face, midway between 
the eyes. 
5. Sticking. — When 
the animal drops as the 
H result of the stunning 
blow, a sharp sticking 
knife is inserted at once 
in front of the breast 
bone. In cattle the skin 
along the lower region 
STICKING JASTEER of neck is cut for a dis- 
tance of 15 inches or so. 
This gives an opportunity to plunge the knife to a depth 
of 5 or 6 inches on either side of the windpipe and to 
sever the arteries leading from and the jugular vein lead- 
ing to the heart. If this operation has been properly 
performed, the blood will flow freely and drain out from 
all parts of the body. In killing hogs, whether or not 
they are first stunned by ax or bullet or simply caught 
and bled, the knife should be inserted at the front of the 
breast bone and guided direct to the arteries. 
6. Dressing the steer—The first act is to skin the face 
and head. The tongue is next removed and cleaned in 
water with the knife. The head may be removed next 
and the skin taken from the front and hind legs. The 
rest of the carcass is left in the skin until raised by rope 
