Abstract: An apparatus for holding a gutted animal body having an empty body cavity that has an open end and a closed end has an elongated holder body having a front portion and a rear portion offset along a longitudinal axis of the holder body from the front portion. The portions are interconnected for relative axial displacement between an adjacent position and an axially extended position. A holder is provided on the front portion for engaging same in the closed end and another holder is provided on the rear portion for engaging same adjacent the open end when the holder of the front portion is engaged with the closed end. The system is operated such that, on engagement of the holder body in the body cavity with the portions in the adjacent position, the rear holder is engaged with the animal body adjacent the respective end, the front and rear portions are axially extended away from each other, and then the front holder is engaged with the respective cavity end.