Abstract: A system of removing the pelt or skin from a carcass of an animal and in particular a sheep which involves working up the carcass so that the skin is removable substantially as an envelope from trunk regions, clamping the worked up pelt and inserting a trunk encircling device between the clamped worked up pelt and the trunk of the carcass thereby clearing the skin therefrom and clearing the rear legs of the animal by causing movement of the carcass relative to the inserted device which results in the rear legs of the carcass being pulled up within the skin envelope to thus clear the skin from the rear legs.