On-Farm Slaughter Operation Licence

Important

• On-Farm Slaughter Operation (OFSO) Program – Government pauses slaughter weight limits that came into effect on July 2, 2025. Read the statement.
• All meat resulting from slaughter under an On-Farm Slaughter Operation (OFSO) licence is uninspected. It must be returned to the owner(s) of the animal for consumption by their households only and cannot be sold gifted, bartered or otherwise transferred. Selling uninspected meat remains illegal in Alberta.
  For more information:
  Email: [email protected]
  Phone: 403-422-0406

Overview

An uninspected slaughter operation, licensed as an OFSO, enables the OFSO licence holder to conduct uninspected slaughter and carcass processing activities on their property.

The OFSO licence requires that:

• The customer of the OFSO owns the animal being slaughtered.
  • Ownership can be transferred by the OFSO to the individual(s) purchasing the live animal.  This can occur by the OFSO selling the live animal(s) to an individual(s) prior to slaughter.
  • Alternatively, an OFSO customer can bring their own animal(s) or an animal sourced elsewhere (for example, 4-H, feedlot, auction, livestock producer) to an OFSO for slaughter and carcass processing services.
  • Note: this licence also enables the licensee to provide a location for others to conduct on-farm slaughter and carcass processing activities for animal(s) owned by an individual (for example, religious celebrations).
• The animal(s) are to be humanely and safely slaughtered.
• The OFSO stores and processes the uninspected carcass(es) in a safe manner.
• The uninspected carcass or processed meat be returned to the owner(s) of the animal.

Large animals exceeding 500 pounds (lbs) (227 kg) (for example, bison, cervid and cattle) slaughtered at an OFSO may be co-owned by up to 4 individuals and the meat shared with their households.

Small live animals under 500 lbs (227 kg) may only be sold to an individual for consumption by their household only. Two or more people cannot buy a small animal and split the meat.

The meat from animals slaughtered at an OFSO is uninspected and is not for sale or for further distribution. The meat is to be returned to the animal owner(s), for consumption by persons who form part of the owner’s household (including spouse, children, siblings, parents and if applicable, current employees living on the property of the animal owner). This limits the risk of a foodborne illness outbreak since the uninspected meat cannot be sold, bartered, gifted, or distributed beyond the animal owner(s) household.

The licensee is responsible for ensuring that those using the land and providing the slaughter services are competent and follow all legislative requirements.

This licence requires that slaughter waste be disposed of according to the requirements for meat facilities in the Disposal of Dead Animals Regulation including the additional options of disposal by on-farm burial, composting, or burning. Uninspected slaughter operations are allowed to gift or sell uninspected slaughter waste consisting of butcher scraps and by-products for use as bait in hunting or trapping.

For additional information, refer to the Meat Inspection Regulation and review the On-Farm Slaughter Operation Technical Guide.

Licensee responsibilities

• Licence holders are responsible for reviewing and following applicable legislation and other licensing requirements as identified on the application form.
• Slaughter at an OFSO is to be conducted outside on the licensed plot of land. The slaughter process is not permitted to be conducted in a building.
• Licence holders are responsible for adequately labelling the uninspected meat provided to the animal owner(s) with:
  • Uninspected – Not for sale
  • The name of the slaughter operation
  • The slaughter date (including year, month and day)
• Licence holders are responsible for adequately labelling uninspected slaughter waste used for bait with:
  • Uninspected – For use as bait, only
  • Name of the slaughter operation
  • The slaughter date (including year, month and day)
• Licence holders are responsible for providing potable water for slaughter and processing activities.
• Licence holders may choose to slaughter under their licence or may authorize any competent person to slaughter under their licence (with the exception of the slaughter of cervids as per the Livestock Industry Diversification Act). The licence holder shall ensure that the animal(s) are slaughtered humanely and safely. Carcasses must be kept in a safe and sanitary manner and at a temperature that ensures that meat is free of spoilage and contamination.
• Zoning restrictions limit slaughter in some areas such as a county or a municipality. The licence holder is responsible for ensuring compliance with zoning and bylaws in their county or municipality for the location of the proposed OFSO.
  • Note: It is recommended that applicants obtain approval from their county or municipality prior to applying for the OFSO licence.
• Licence holders transporting and disposing of cattle tissue with specified risk material (SRM) require a permit.
• Applicants that also hold an Alberta government inspected facility licence (mobile butcher facility or abattoir) for the same plot of land as the OFSO, are required to show that the on-farm licence slaughter premise and activities are separated from the inspected meat facility premise and activities.
• Licence holders are required to submit quarterly reports within 2 weeks of the end of each quarter.

Eligibility

You can apply for an Alberta OFSO Licence if you:

• can lawfully operate a business in Alberta
• are at least 18 years of age

Cost

• 5-year licence fee: $100
• Licences are valid 5 years from the date of issue.

Application steps

1. Confirm the zoning requirements of the county or municipality where the OFSO is located.
2. Register for a Premises Identification number (PID), if you do not already have one.
3. Review the On-farm slaughter operation technical guide.
4. Complete the OFSO food safety and animal welfare learning modules.
5. Complete the food safety learning modules quiz.
6. Obtain confirmation from an accredited laboratory that the water source, either private (such as a well or dugout) or stored water (such as a cistern) being used for slaughter and meat processing is potable. Microbiological testing is not required for city or municipal water sources.
   • View the OFSO potable water testing info sheet for more information.
7. Submit payment, complete the OFSO application form and submit with a completed OFSO food safety and animal welfare quiz and confirmation of water potability.
8. Participate in an onsite assessment with AGI to confirm the planned OFSO meets the legislative requirements for humane slaughter of livestock and safe production of food.
   • AGI will contact the applicant to arrange for the assessment.

Applicants that satisfy the requirements of steps 1-8, will be considered for an OFSO license. 

How to apply

Apply online

To apply for and purchase an OFSO licence online, you will need:

• a valid credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express)
• an email address (to receive updates and information about Alberta regulations)

Complete application and submit payment:

On-Farm Slaughter Operation application

Apply by mail

1. Download the PDF fillable application form to your computer or print the application, then fill in the requested information.
   • On-Farm Slaughter Operation licence application
   • Note: In order for your application to be processed, the form must be complete.
2. Cheques or money orders should be payable to the "Government of Alberta" and mailed with your application form to the address below:
   
   Attention: Licensing
   Meat and Dairy Inspection Section
   J.G. O’Donoghue Building
   7000 113 Street
   Edmonton, Alberta  T6H 5T6
   Do not send cash.

Apply by email

1. Download the PDF fillable application form to your computer or print the application, then fill in the requested information.
   • On-Farm Slaughter Operation licence application
   • Note: In order for your application to be processed, the form must be complete.
      
2. Submit payment by cheque, money order or credit card. Do not sent cash. Cheques or money orders should be payable to the Government of Alberta and mailed with your application form to the address below:
   
   Attention: Licensing
   Meat and Dairy Inspection Section
   J.G. O’Donoghue Building
   7000 113 Street
   Edmonton, Alberta  T6H 5T6
   Do not send cash.
   
   Pay by credit card at AGI Pay:
   • Under Program area, select: 'Agriculture General'.
   • Under Service you are paying for, select 'on-farm slaughter operation licence'.
      
3. Email your saved PDF application form to [email protected] and use the subject 'Licencing'.

Note: Application fees are non-refundable.

Operation directory

The Directory of licensed slaughter operations helps customers to find provincially licensed slaughter operations or meat facilities located across Alberta. Licensee business information is included in the directory.

To opt out of the directory, email: [email protected].

Reporting requirements

Download and fill out: On-Farm Slaughter Operation Report Form.

Reporting schedule

On-Farm Slaughter Operation licence holders must submit a report within 2 weeks of the end of each of these quarters:

• Quarter 1: January to March
• Quarter 2: April to June
• Quarter 3: July to September
• Quarter 4: October to December

Submit report

Submit by email

Send your completed PDF report form by clicking on the “Submit by Email” button at the bottom of the form.

Submit by mail

If you are not sending your report forms by email, mail your printed reports to the mailing address that appears above on this page.

Submit online

To submit your on-farm slaughter operation reports online, first watch: Opinio On-farm slaughter operation data entry.

Next, send us a request to use this tool – fill out this online form: Online Slaughter Report Request. You will receive an email with a link and password for the report and instructions to complete it.

Resources

• Resources for licensed slaughter operations
• On-farm Slaughter Operation Technical Guide

Contact

Connect with us:

For questions about the OFSO Licence:
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 403-422-0406.

For questions about on-line reporting, contact:

Bill Liu
Phone: 780-644-8854
Cell: 780-863-6849
Email: [email protected]

Related

• Livestock mortality management
• Livestock traceability
• Biosecurity and livestock