A pre-rendering system and method includes grinding limed cattle hide fleshings. The ground, limed cattle hide fleshings may then be de-limed using one or more acids or acidic solutions and then may be neutralized using one or more acids. Once the cattle hide fleshings have been de-limed and neutralized, they may be washed and then dried to prepare edible meat, such as for pet food or other animal feed, that may be rendered.