Alberta guide
Humane Handling and Stunning at Alberta Abattoirs: Records and Immediate Response
Last reviewed: 2026-08-17 · Primary sources verified in InspectionDay regulatory datasets
Alberta MFS addresses humane handling and stunning for abattoir operations. This guide explains operational recordkeeping, not animal fitness decisions, which remain with trained staff and inspectors/veterinarians.
What to document
- Receiving and unloading observations where welfare concerns occur
- Handling in holding, movement, and restraint
- Stunning method, equipment, and result
- Ineffective stun: immediate animal-welfare response, re-stun where performed, supervisor notification where required
- Slaughter session context (species, counts, lots where applicable)
What happens after an ineffective stun?
Take immediate animal-welfare response per your written program and MFS expectations, typically including effective re-stun and notification. Document the observation, immediate response, equipment involved, and follow-up corrective action where the program requires it. InspectionDay records these steps; it does not decide regulatory acceptability.
Common questions
- What records are required for slaughter?
- Depends on licence type and MFS sections applicable to your facility, commonly slaughter session records, humane handling/stunning events, traceability links, and corrective follow-up where issues occur.
Official sources
Reviewed against primary Ontario and Alberta government sources. InspectionDay does not determine regulatory compliance.
Meat Facility Standards, 2022
Source verified in dataset: 2026-08-10
View official sourceMeat Inspection Regulation (AR 42/2003)
Source verified in dataset: 2026-08-10
View official sourceGuidance for slaughter and meat processing operations
Source verified in dataset: 2026-08-10
View official source
Related guides
Explore InspectionDay for Alberta
Floor workflow for Alberta abattoir profiles.