Elk and deer ranchers in Alberta will soon be allowed to slaughter animals on their farms for their own consumption.
The Alberta government recently introduced amendments to the act governing the industry.
Before, when elk and deer ranchers wanted to slaughter an animal to eat for themselves, they had to take it to an approved abattoir, unlike sheep and cattle producers.
The amendments to the Livestock Industry Diversification Act will allow on-farm slaughter for personal consumption.
But Murray Greer, executive director of the Alberta Whitetail and Mule Deer Association, said the changes are just “wordsmithing.”
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“Certainly this won’t do anything beneficial for the industry,” said Greer.
The changes are mainly cosmetic, he added, and won’t recognize cervids as domestic livestock or help an industry that is struggling with drought and worries of disease.
The farmed deer and elk producers want to get out of governance by the Livestock Industry Diversification Act and be classified as domestic livestock, like cattle, hogs or sheep.
Glenda Elkow, president of the Alberta Elk Association, agreed the proposed amendments are minor.
She agreed with Greer that the rules will do little to help struggling producers.
“The changes do not answer questions of full domesticity that the industry needs and wants.”
Ken Gossen, head of Alberta Agriculture’s diversified livestock branch, said the changes are a step in the right direction.
The provincial government helps producers with its support to the Elk Centre of Excellence, access to market development funds and the marketing expertise of staff, he said.
“We’re trying to do what we can.”
Saskatchewan legislation allows producers to slaughter game on the farm for personal use or commercial use, including hunt farms.
In Manitoba, regulations allow slaughter only at abattoirs licensed for elk. Producers there are pushing for the same changes as Alberta.
