Native cowhide (heavy) is hide weighing from fifty-five to sixty-five pounds, obtained from cows.
Native cowhide (light) is cowhide weighing under fifty-five pounds.
Branded cowhide is hide obtained from cows that are branded on the face of the hide.
Butts is a term applied to the part of the hide remaining after cutting off the head, shoulders, and strip of the belly.
Colorado steer hide is from Colorado steers, which are very light.
Texas steer hide comes in three grades, heavy, light, and extra light. The heavy grade is very heavy because the animal is allowed to graze on the plains. That is the reason why it is heavier than the Colorado steer hide, which is raised on the farm.
Bull hide is divided into two classes, the regular hide and the branded grade. The branded grade usually is one cent a pound less than the regular.
Country hides are of three grades, Ohio Buffs, Ohio Ex., and Southern. The Ohio Buffs weigh from forty to sixty pounds. The Ohio Ex. weighs from twenty to forty pounds. Southern hides have spots without hair and other blemishes on them, due to the sting of insects. This makes the Southern hide inferior to the Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Chicago hides that have no such blemishes. Ohio Butt hides are the best, because in Ohio they kill a great many young calves, while in Chicago young cows (that have calved) are killed, causing the hide to be flanky.
The season of the year in which cattle are slaughtered has considerable influence upon both the weight and condition of the hide. During the winter months, by reason of the hair being longer and thicker, the hide is heavier, ranging from seventy-five to eighty pounds, and gradually decreasing in weight as the season becomes warmer and the coat is shed, until in June and July it weighs from seventy down to fifty-five pounds, the hair then being thin and short. The best hides of the year are October hides, and short-haired hides are better for leather purposes than long-haired ones.
A thick hide which is to be used for upper leather is cut into sides before the tanning process is completed. This is performed by passing it between rollers where it comes in contact with a sharp knife-edge, which splits it into two or more sheets. Great care must be exercised in cutting the leather in order to have good “splits” (sheets of leather). A split from a heavy hide is not as good as a whole of a lighter leather.