Methods of processing four-legged animals are described. The methods comprise contacting exterior surfaces of the live animal at least once when the animal is en route to being slaughtered but before it is killed by exsanguination, with a microbiocidal solution. The microbiocidal solution is comprised of: water having a bromine residual derived from (a) (i) at least one bromine source, (ii) at least one alkali metal base, and/or at least one alkaline earth metal base, and (iii) at least one halogen stabilizer (b) (i) ammonium bromide, and/or at least one alkali metal bromide, and/or at least one alkaline earth metal bromide, and (ii) at least one alkali metal hypohalite and/or at least one alkaline earth metal hypohalite or (c) a mixture or combination of any one or more of (a) and/or (b) the bromine residual in each of (a), (b), and (c) sufficient to provide microbiocidal activity.
