There's a sturdy tendon above the knee that we used to hang upside down from.
Below this hanging point, cuts were made into the skin all the way around that joint.
Removing the conversation pieces came next. No matter how many times you do it, I don't anticipate the act of grabbing and removing another male animal's testicles getting any easier.
Using the previous cut, a cut down was made all the way down to the base of the ribcage.
Another shot of that vertical cut.
Back up top. With the blade cutting from the inside out to prevent hair getting everywhere, a cut was made from the crotch up to the first cut around the leg.
Once the cut is made on each side, it was kind of like pulling off a really stubborn article of clothing. Sometimes it was necessary to run the knife along the meat/skin connection to help separate it.
Working hide away from the meat. The area pictured gave the most trouble. It got easier as you moved down the hide.
Once all the hide is away from the back legs, keep on working your way downward.
Notice the meat trying to come off with a hide. Thankfully, the hind legs were the only real problem areas.
Just kinda slides off once you get around the stomach and back. Knives weren't necessary here. Just a good grip and enough weight pulling down. Rodney said he had never had goats fat enough to do this with. Usually, the pulling and trimming technique is required all the way down the goat. Must having something to do with all that Noble Goat and privet. Chalk it up as a compliment to our goat raising abilities.
Up around the front shoulders, it got a little difficult again. Same idea as the back legs. Good grip, pull tight, and help along with a knife. And get a sharp knife. Mine was struggling by the end of the day. Pulled an Uncle Ed and nicked a finger, but nothing you can whine about in front of a guy like Rodney. While I was worried about my girl scout boo boo, he told me about his 2 tendon, multiple nerve, to-the-bone accident a few months back. I don't know why I bothered asking if he drove himself to the hospital. Of course he did. Getcha some of that, Bear Grylls.
Once the hide is down around the neck, twist until you hear something snap, then cut. Everything should fall together in a nice, neat pile.
I decided I'd like to quarter and freeze at least one goat, so Rodney showed how to take of the back legs. Didn't look too difficult. Just follow the natural joint lines.
Removing all the guts leaves the final product looking a little different. That's pretty straightforward as well. Another vertical cut, from up around the crotch down to the very bottom. Then everything tumbles out in a pretty tidy clump. Surprisingly, the entire thing is relatively clean, considering you are dismantling a freshly killed animal.
