Alberta Ranched Elk

Animal Welfare

Alberta Elk Ranchers’ -

Quality & Safety

Elk ranchers are proud of their industry and their products; they meet the highest standards set for any livestock industry. Alberta Ranched Elk are raised on spacious farms and given plenty of room to roam; they graze naturally on the grasses and plants they prefer and their diet is free of hormones and antibiotics.

Elk ranchers take great care to ensure their product is of the highest quality. All elk meat comes from healthy, well cared for animals and is federally or provincially inspected before it is offered for sale

Governance

The Alberta Elk Commission (AEC) is an organization of individuals, farms and corporations actively supporting and developing the ranched elk industry in Alberta. From its beginnings in 1988 as the Alberta Game Growers Association, the AEC has grown to include over 110 producers farming

elk in Alberta. Participation in the Commission is mandatory for all cervid farm license holders in the province of Alberta. Investors and other interested parties can obtain a

non-voting, associate membership.

The Commission is governed by a Board of Directors

comprised of representatives elected from each of seven

chapters, plus three elected from the floor of the AEC annual

general meeting. Based in Leduc, Alberta, an operations

manager and small staff look after the day-to-day business

of the Commission. The Commission also uses the services

of an elk & bison specialist.

Activities & Services

Here are a few of the important functions AEC performs on

behalf of its producers:

Liaison between government and producers: liaison with government regarding legislation and programs; supporting the Canadian Cervid Alliance (CCA) in addressing national issues relevant to the ranched elk industry; and working with government and other interest groups to access national and international markets.
Education and liaison with producers: advising producers of regulatory changes or issues concerning the industry; administering certification and standards for elk antler harvest; educating producers in best practices and the most efficient production methods; supporting chapter meetings for regional producers; and hosting an annual convention.
Advertising and promotion: producing brochures and publications; promoting Alberta Ranched Elk products at trade shows and exhibitions; producing display materials for use by AEC members; referring marketing opportunities to producers; and providing information in response to member and public inquiries.

The AEC also offers its producers services such as research

(funding government research, university and private sector

projects) and animal health (supporting the Alberta TB testing

protocol, the Alberta Mandatory CWD Surveillance Program,

and membership in the Alberta Farm Animal Care Association).

The Alberta Elk Commission

“If it doesn’t grow in the dirt, it doesn’t go into our feed.”

Safety

All elk processed in Alberta undergo mandatory and rigorous testing before processing to ensure that only healthy animals enter the human food chain.

Elk ranching is a government-regulated industry controlled under the Livestock Industry Diversiﬁcation Act. The Act deﬁnes strict guidelines for farm infrastructure requirements and animal inventory registration. It also deﬁnes veriﬁcation methods that ensure animal traceability.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regularly inspects elk herds and tests for illnesses such as tuberculosis and brucellosis.
Alberta ranchers comply with the Federal government’s Mandatory CWD Surveillance Program.
Only one case of CWD was found on an Alberta elk farm prior to 2002. Since 2002, more than 43,000 ranched elk have been tested in Alberta and no cases of CWD have been found.
There is no evidence showing that CWD can affect humans.

Ethics

Alberta’s elk ranchers are committed to humane treatment practices because they know it’s in the best interests of their animals and their industry. Health Canada, the CFIA and the Alberta government have set strict regulations for the practice of elk ranching. The free-range environments on Alberta elk farms promote healthy and normal development. There’s no such thing as a “factory farm” in the elk industry!

Elk graze naturally, and their diet is free of growth stimulants, hormones and antibiotics. “If it doesn’t grow in the dirt, it doesn’t go into our feed.”
Alberta’s elk ranchers adhere to the highest standards in Canadian agriculture, established by the provincial and federal governments.
The industry is governed by the Livestock Industry Diversiﬁcation Act and the federal Elk and Deer Farming Guide lays out very speciﬁc animal husbandry guidelines.