Neatsfoot oil

Neatsfoot oil is a yellow oil originally rendered and purified from the feet (but not the hooves) and shin bones of cattle. It is used as a conditioning, softening and preservative for leather, and remains liquid down to a low temperature. In the 18th century, it was used medically as a topical application for dry scaly skin conditions.

Neatsfoot oil is produced much less than it once was. Currently, most Neatsfoot Oil is now made from pigs. Lard is pressed and the liquid produced, (which may have new or reclaimed mineral oil added) is sold as Neatsfoot Oil. The best quality Neatsfoot oil still comes from the legs of calves and has no mineral oil added.

The fat in animals' legs generally has a lower melting point than the body fat, which means that it is more fluid and easier to use at lower temperatures, making it more effective for treating leather. This is because the legs and feet of such animals are adapted to tolerate and maintain much lower temperatures than those of the body core, using countercurrent exchange between arterial and venous blood.

"Prime Neatsfoot Oil" is a term used for a blend of pure neatsfoot oil and non-organic oils, generally mineral oil. Although the "Prime" is marketed as "the saddlemaker's choice", many saddlemakers recommend pure neatsfoot oil as being superior.

'Neat' in the oil's name comes from an old term for animals of the genus Bos, especially cattle.