Salted Hides
Cattle hides are sold on the basis of 100% machine pulled 80/20 or 90/10 Sound/Cut selection.
Fresh green hides are delivered daily from the meatworks to our processing plant where they are trimmed and fleshed, and then drum salted for 10 hours using coarse salt with the addition of fungicide and bactericide.
Following cure, the hides are graded by weight and type and packed onto ISPM certified wooden pallets each weighing approximately 1,250 kgs.
All hides are subject to the strictest quality control during production and packing.
Hides are processed Unfleshed (Conventional) or Trimmed and Fleshed in various weight categories and selections.
| Description | Weight Range | Average Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Ox & Heifer | 14–17 kgs | 16/17 |
| 17–23 kgs | 20/22 | |
| 23–30 kgs | 28/30 | |
| Ox & Grain Fed Ox | 30 kgs up | 38/40 |
| 30 kgs up | 41/43 | |
| Light Cows | Under 17 kgs | 15/16 |
| Heavy Cows | 17 kgs up | 24/26 |
| Bulls | 30 kgs up | 47/51 |
Weight ranges are given in good faith but without guarantee.
Grading Categories
Sound Hides
- No cuts or holes in the Prime area.
- Up to 3 minor cuts/holes in the Offal area permitted.
- No major grain side defects.
- Good shape and consistent pattern.
Cut / Second Grade Hides
- May include up to 3 cuts or holes in Prime area, minor grain damage or hair loss (up to 3 patches, each < 90mm), one short shank or irregularly patterned neck.
- All misshapen or cut skins classified as Cuts/Seconds.
- Standard practice allows 10–20% Cuts/Seconds in bulk packs, sold without discount (AHSLEA standards).
Casualty Hides
- Sourced from cattle that died before regular slaughter or those slaughtered at pet food establishments.
- Machine flayed and often show grain defects (e.g. drag marks, disease, or scarring).
- May include hair slip, significant grain defects, poor butchering or deep flay marks, badly misshapen hides, deep horn marks or from disease-affected areas.