Abstract: An apparatus for flaying of hanging sheep carcasses which are suspended from the hind legs, comprises a stretching device (1) which, by means of a holder means (7), is arranged to be connected with the head of a sheep carcass (3) and to exert downward-directed stretching force thereon, and a flayer driving device (2) having a flayer (4) which is arranged for reciprocating movement along the ventral side of the sheep carcass for executing flaying in the direction from a pocket which is formed in advance by manually flaying around the navel of the carcass. Both the stretching device (1) and the flayer driving device (2) consists of a cylinder/piston unit (5 resp. 8) with a piston rod (6 resp.