On-Farm Slaughter Rules in Alberta
Requirements can change and individual circumstances differ. Always verify current requirements with the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and other applicable authorities.
Alberta’s On-Farm Slaughter Operation licence, commonly called an OFSO, provides a specific route for uninspected slaughter on a licensed farm property.
OFSO meat is uninspected
Meat resulting from slaughter under an On-Farm Slaughter Operation licence is not inspected through Alberta’s commercial meat-inspection system.
Animal ownership matters
The OFSO framework is based on slaughtering animals owned by the people who will receive the resulting meat.
Current Alberta requirements should be checked carefully when multiple people acquire ownership interests in a large animal.
The meat returns to the owner
The resulting meat must be returned to the animal owner or owners for consumption within their households.
It cannot later be sold
Alberta states that OFSO meat cannot be:
- sold
- gifted
- bartered
- otherwise transferred
A producer cannot use the OFSO licence simply to slaughter cattle and then sell packages of that uninspected beef to the general public.
Licence holders still have responsibilities
OFSO operations are subject to requirements relating to licensing, slaughter, sanitation, meat handling, animal welfare and reporting.
Check the current rules
The OFSO program has changed over time. Producers should use the current Government of Alberta page when planning slaughter or animal ownership arrangements.
Last reviewed: September 2026.