Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing finely divided cartilage powder from raw cartilage including the steps of mechanically trimming raw cartilage from an animal body, and granulating the raw cartilage into granules having an average size of from about 4 mm to 8 mm diameter. The granules are then subjected to azeotropic extraction, the extraction conducted with an extracting agent which both forms an azeotrope with water and solubilizes fat. The granules are then separated from the extracting agent, and milled to an average size of from about 40 to 70.mu. diameter.Also disclosed is a method of separating calcium compounds from cartilage including the steps of mechanically trimming raw cartilage from an animal body, granulating the raw cartilage into granules having an average size of from about 4 to 8 mm diameter, and partially drying the granules to produce a friable calcified outer layer on each granule.