How to cut nutria: how much it grows before slaughter, methods and equipment

Cultivation of nutria is considered quite a profitable business, which many farmers are engaged in. At the same time, to obtain high-quality meat and skins, it is not enough to raise animals. Many novice breeders are interested in how to cut a nutria. In this case, it is necessary to determine the readiness of the animal for slaughter. Of no small importance is the ability to remove the skin so that it retains its integrity.

How much nutria grows before slaughter

Desired fur maturity affects slaughter time. The animals are distinguished by the highest quality skin at 8-10 months. At the same time, the fur acquires the greatest density and softness in winter. Therefore, weather factors affect the timing of slaughter.

To determine the optimal period, it is worth considering regional features:

• in northern Europe, nutria is recommended to be slaughtered from early November to mid-March;
• in the central European regions, work is carried out from mid-November to early March;
• in the south it is recommended to slaughter animals from late November or early December to early March.

Sometimes it is permissible to slaughter animals in the warm season. At the same time, the wool of animals must meet all quality criteria. Before slaughter, farmers carefully select individuals and assess the condition of their wool. It is recommended to take into account the following quality criteria:

• The length of the hairs on the back is 12 centimeters, the coat is thick and shiny;
• fur in the groin area uniformly covers the skin;
• covering hairs grow from below the belly;
• down size in the groin area reaches 10 centimeters;
• there are no tangles in the abdomen and spine.

If all parameters are correct, the animal is ready for slaughter. In this case, the skin is considered first-class, and therefore is the most expensive. Great importance is given to the size of the skin. Therefore, animals weighing more than 3 kilograms should be sent for slaughter.

If the animal's fur is covered with dirt or down, it is recommended to wash and comb it before slaughter.

Equipment and supplies

For the procedure to be successful, it is important to prepare everything you need. For this you will need:

• blood container;
• a set of knives - they are designed for skinning, cutting fat, bleeding carcasses;
• brushes and brushes;
• galvanized table - it is convenient to butcher a carcass on it;
• hanger and ring;
• scissors - for the procedure you will need a regular tool and Cooper;
• metal scraper;
• hammer;
• metal comb;
• needle - it should be special for knitting skins;
• wooden blank - it is used to clean the skin from meat and fat.

Also, the tools depend on the method of slaughter. It can be a stick or electrodes. In addition, you will need rubber gloves.

Slaughter methods

In order for the slaughter to be successful, it is important to choose the right method for the procedure and follow the technology.

Manual

Slaughter is recommended in the morning. For 12 hours before this procedure, animals are not recommended to be fed, watered or bathed. To score a nutria, you should do the following:

1. Take the animal by the tail and hind leg with your left hand, lower it down, leaning on the house.
2. Hit the stick quickly. This can be done on the forehead or the back of the head. Previously, the stick should be wrapped with a cloth or rubber. This will help avoid skull damage and bruising.

After slaughter, it is recommended to bleed the carcass, as the meat is eaten. For this, the animal is hung upside down and the blood vessels are cut. From below it is worth putting a basin or other container into which blood drains. The process takes 3 minutes. After removing the blood, it is recommended to remove the carcass from the hook and press on the stomach to get rid of the urine. Then you can begin to remove the skin.

With electric current

This method is considered the easiest. It implies the killing of an animal by means of a discharge. Electrodes are used to kill nutria.Current is passed through them. To carry out the procedure, one wire is placed near the front or hind paw, and then electricity is connected with a voltage of 220 volts. In this case, the current strength is made at least 0.7 amperes. You can kill a nutria in this way in a maximum of 3 seconds.

Skinning rules

After slaughter, it is recommended to do the following:

• remove the skin;
• perform post-processing;
• butcher a fresh carcass.

It is recommended to prepare sharp knives and bowls in advance. You will also need a flat surface. It is used to stretch the skin. After slaughter, it is recommended to release blood. To do this, the animal should be hung by its hind legs, and a basin or a deep bowl should be placed below. After that, pierce the eyes and nasopharynx to release blood. Then you need to release urine and proceed to remove the skin. This process should start from the hind legs. It is recommended to try to make even cuts of a rounded shape.

How to get and store nutria skin?

After removing the skin, its inner surface should be cleaned of the remaining meat and fat. Subsequently, the material is degreased and corrected. This manipulation is performed with special devices. All movements must be careful not to damage the skin.

After carrying out the preparatory work, it is important to learn how to properly store the skin. If the fur is not planned to be used immediately, it is permissible to preserve it. To do this, use a saline solution. Raw materials should be sprinkled with s alt and placed in a container at an angle. After 1-2 days the skin is checked. If the result is insufficient, the manipulation is repeated.

Subsequently, it is recommended to fold the skin so that the fur is on top, and wrap it in a bag or film. It is permissible to keep ready-made raw materials in a cool place. Shelf life in the refrigerator or freezer is up to 6 months.

Carcass cutting

Nutria is quite easy to butcher. This will require a cloth and a container filled with water. You also need to take a sharp knife and a waste bag. It is recommended to start cutting the carcass immediately after removing the skin. First, you should remove all the insides, and then cut the stomach along.

Especial care must be taken to separate the gallbladder and urinary bladder. Damage to them will provoke a deterioration in the taste of meat - it will become bitter.

The slaughter and cutting of nutria are considered quite labor-intensive processes that require a clear sequence of actions. This helps to get tasty meat and quality fur.

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