Breeding nutria is considered a fairly profitable business, which is practiced by many farmers. At the same time, to obtain high-quality meat and skins, it is not enough to raise animals. Many novice livestock breeders are interested in how to cut 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 maintains its integrity.
How long does nutria grow before slaughter?
The time of slaughter is influenced by the desired maturity of the fur. Animals have the highest quality skin at 8-10 months.At the same time, the fur becomes thickest and softest in winter. Therefore, weather factors influence the timing of slaughter.
To determine the optimal period, it is worth taking into account regional characteristics:
- in northern Europe, it is recommended to slaughter nutria from early November to mid-March;
- in 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 acceptable to slaughter animals in the warm season. At the same time, the animals’ fur must meet all quality criteria. Before slaughter, farmers carefully select individuals and evaluate the condition of their fur. 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;
- the fur in the groin area uniformly covers the skin;
- covering hairs grow from the bottom of the belly;
- the size of the fluff in the groin area reaches 10 centimeters;
- There are no tangles in the area of the abdomen and spine.
If all parameters correspond to the norm, the animal is ready for slaughter. In this case, the skin is considered first-class, and therefore costs as much as possible. Great importance is given to the size of the skin. Therefore, it is worth sending animals weighing more than 3 kilograms for slaughter.
Equipment and inventory
For the procedure to be successful, it is important to prepare everything necessary. For this you will need:
- container for blood;
- a set of knives - they are designed for skinning, cutting fat, bleeding a carcass;
- brushes and cleaners;
- galvanized table – it is convenient to cut up 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 must be special for knitting skins;
- wooden block - it is used to cleanse the skin of meat and fat.
Also, the tools depend on the slaughter method. This could be a stick or electrodes. In addition, you will need rubber gloves.
Slaughter methods
For slaughter to be successful, it is important to choose the right method for carrying out the procedure and follow the technology.
Manual
It is recommended to slaughter in the morning. It is not recommended to feed, water or bathe animals 12 hours before performing this procedure. To kill nutria, you should do the following:
- Take the animal by the tail and hind paw with your left hand and lower it down, resting it on the house.
- Hit quickly with a stick. This can be done on the forehead or the back of the head. The stick should first be wrapped in cloth or rubber. This will help avoid damage to the skull and the appearance of hematomas.
After slaughter, it is recommended to bleed the carcass, since the meat is eaten. To do this, the animal is hung upside down and the blood vessels are cut. It is worth placing a basin or other container below to drain the blood. 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 start removing the skin.
Using electric current
This method is considered the simplest. It involves killing the animal by shock. Electrodes are used to slaughter nutria. Current is passed through them. To carry out the procedure, one wire is placed near the front or back paw, and then 220 volt electricity is connected. In this case, the current strength is made at least 0.7 amperes.It is possible to kill 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;
- cut up 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 the blood. To do this, the animal should be suspended by its hind legs, and a basin or deep bowl should be placed below. After this, pierce the eyes and nasopharynx to release the blood. Then you need to release the urine and proceed to removing the skin. This process should begin with the hind legs. It is recommended to try to make even, rounded cuts.
How to clean and store nutria skin?
After removing the skin, its inner surface should be cleaned of any remaining meat and fat. Subsequently, the material is degreased and straightened. This manipulation is performed with special devices. All movements must be careful so as 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. The raw materials should be sprinkled with salt 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 the finished 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 cut. In this case, you will need 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 belly lengthwise.
Particular care must be taken to separate the gallbladder and bladder. Damage to them will cause a deterioration in the taste of the meat - it will become bitter.
Slaughtering and cutting up nutria are considered quite labor-intensive processes that require adherence to a clear sequence of actions. This helps to get tasty meat and high-quality fur.
