brining
A method generally used in the larger abattoirs
for curing hides and skins for transportation to
tanneries. After flaying. the hides are washed
thoroughly to remove blood and soluble protein
matter and the hair is scraped under a spray of
water. The flesh side is brushed vigorously to
remove surplus flesh. The hides are then hung in
pits or run in large paddles in a very strong
solution of sodium chloride. using 30 pounds of
salt to every 10 gallons of water. This gives a
very good and uniform salt penetration for heavy
hides in 1 to 14 hours. The hides are then drained
and piled and treated with salt in the WET-SALTING process.
The purity and strength of the brine must be
checked before it is reused, as it may become
contaminated with halophilic bacteria. The use of
a salt solution as a preliminary treatment for
preserving cowhides has been standard practice in
South America for many years, and has been in
commercial use in the United States since about
1935. Brining, followed by wet-salting, is a more
expensive method of cure than salting alone;
however, it reduces putrefactive damage to the
hides to a considerable extent over simple
salting. (248 , 306 )
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