On-Farm Slaughter Concerns

On behalf of the MD of Spirit River’s Agriculture Service Board, Chairman Jesse Meyer has sent Minister Sigurdson a letter in support of the concerns expressed in a letter previously sent by the Council for Saddle Hills County.

The main amendment concerns related to on-farm slaughter in Alberta center on changes to the OFSO program under the Meat Inspection Regulation.

Alberta introduced the OFSO license in 2020 to help address processing delays at inspected abattoirs (especially during COVID-19), allowing licensed farmers to slaughter animals on their own property. The meat is uninspected and can only be used for the personal use of the customer(s) and their household. Selling uninspected meat remains illegal in Alberta.

In July 2025, the province implemented amendments introducing annual limits on uninspected slaughter volume for OFSO license holders (e.g., a cap of around 2,250 kg or 5,000 lbs. of live animal weight per year, roughly equivalent to about 4 cows, 76 goats, or 150 chickens depending on the operation). These limits applied primarily to new or pending licenses (with existing ones grandfathered initially until renewal).

This triggered significant pushback from producers, leading the government to pause the changes shortly after for further consultation. As of late 2025 (based on available reports), the limits remain paused pending further stakeholder engagement. The government has been reviewing input to balance supporting local producers with food safety and regulatory integrity.

For the most current status, check Alberta’s official agriculture site (alberta.ca/on-farm-slaughter-operation-licence) or recent updates from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, as policies can evolve with ongoing consultations.

To read the support letter, click on the following link:

Support for Saddle Hills County – On-Farm Slaughter Operation