The modern packing house

by F. W. Wilder

—This expression describes rimming over and siding the bullock. The special object of this operation is to attain a smooth hide without scores or cuts, smooth work on the bullock, which consists in saving the fell very carefully, clearing the rose on shoulder fully, also the saving of the fell back of the elbow and the forward shoulder. The latter part is a very particular point, as if the fell is not left it shows black upon chilling.

Breast Sawing.

—In sawing the breast, it should be done centrally, holding saw at same angle as that at which the animal is lying, otherwise the saw works toward one side, and makes a very bad-looking brisket on one side of the beef. Saw where marked, otherwise it will become necessary to trim meat from the neck, if the marks have not been followed.

Caul pulling consists in taking out the caul in a tidy, cleanly condition, keeping same off the floor, and putting it into a box. Care should also be taken not to cut or tear the intestines, and if so, that they are immediately skewered.

Fell Cutting.

—Fell cutting consists in skinning the hide off the hind legs when animal is on the first hoist. The points to be carefully looked after in this work is to see that smooth work is done both on the hides and on the beef itself.

Rumping.

—This operation requires very skillful work, and calls for a great deal of attention. Points to be attained are a smooth hide free from scores or cuts, and smooth work on the beef. Care must be used in this work to see that the rumper keeps very close to the hide on outside of the leg, in order that the fell-beater may do good work. If the rumper is careless and breaks through the fell, it is impossible to carry this down smoothly. In working around the tail, care must be taken not to cut into the lean meat, especially on thin cattle, where there is comparatively little covering.

Fell Beating.

—If the floorman and rumper do their work properly, it is comparatively easy to do a good job at fell beating. The fell-beaters should then use care to see that they do not tear through, and, in marking with the chopper, to mark in such a way that they tear back instead of cutting off.