Terminologies

TERMINOLOGIES

  • The skin from a fully–grown large animal is called as hide
  • Those from small stock (i.e., sheep, goats and pigs) is called a skin.
  • The terms skin is also applied to calves.
  • The slunk is the term applied to the skin of an unborn calf, which is often used for parchment, light suede or drumbeats.
  • The skin from the older calf, which has not yet reached maturity, is called a kip.
  • There are a number of terms in each country, which varies with terms of the countries.
  • The nomenclature of hides and skins expressed in green weight is as follows:

Calf skins

15 lb.

Overweight kip/heifer skin (heifer)

25 to 30 lbs.

Hides (cow)

Over 30 lbs

Extremely light steers (steer)

30 to 48 lbs.

Light steers

48 to 58 lbs.

Light cow hide

Less than 53 lbs.

Heavy cow hide

Over 53 lbs

Heavy steers

Over 58 lbs.

Bull hide (bull)

60 - 100 lbs.

  • The United States has its own terminology.
  • The term native is used to denote hides, which have not been branded.
  • Colorado is one, which has one or several brands.
  • Texas is referred to the compact, narrow and plump steer hide.
  • Packer hide is a term reserved for hides originating in large meatpacking plants.
    • These are usually of the finest quality because of the excellent conditions under which they are flayed and preserved and also because of the high skill of the operators.
  • Frigorifico is the term used for the ones originated in South American meatpacking plants, which are of even better material.
    • These are prepared by a good method of brining prior to salting and hence have an improved quality.
  • Freezer is the term applied to goods produced by a meat-freezing establishment, particularly in Australia or New Zealand.
    • They are of uniform high quality because; they are prepared from centralized slaughter and supervision.
  • Big packer hides – Hides obtained from highly skilled flayers.
  • Small packer hides – Hides obtained from less skilled flayers.
  • Big packer hides - Flayed by highly skilled workers.
  • Small packer hides - Flayed by less skilled workers.
Last modified: Friday, 17 September 2010, 4:31 AM