The program is responsible for maintaining consistent standards in weighing and carcass dressing in settlement for the sale of beef and veal cattle on a live or dressed weight basis in Ontario, enforcing beef grade labelling regulations and ensuring the health and welfare of animals sold at licenced public auctions. Four staff members currently work on these programs within the Veterinary Services Unit.

In addition to OMAFRA staff working in the Unit, the Veterinary Services Unit provides veterinary inspection and disposition of livestock at each livestock auction through the services of contract local veterinary inspectors across Ontario, and the training and appointment of livestock auction lay inspectors who identify abnormal animals for veterinary inspection.

New Livestock and Poultry Carcass Gradesand Sales Regulation

On October 1, 2009, new provincial regulations for lamb and mutton, poultry, veal and beef came into effect, which refer to federal grade standards, conditions of grading and grade marking requirements under the Livestock and Poultry Carcass Grading Regulations of the Canada Agricultural Products Act (CAPA). Accurate, consistent meat grading and identification throughout the processing and retail chain play an important role in maintaining consumer confidence in the quality of Ontario’s meat supply.

OMAFRA has introduced a new regulation under the Food Safety and Quality Act to simplify provincial carcass grading regulations for the livestock industry by bringing them into line with those of other provinces and the federal government, and bringing together the requirements for different species under one regulation. Updating provincial regulations to reflect federal grade standards also provides consistent standards for Ontario veal, helping to maintain consumer confidence and increase the competitiveness of the veal industry.

The new regulation is now in line with the federal Livestock and Poultry Carcass Grading Regulation, which defines veal carcasses as having a carcass weight no greater than 180kg. The regulation only allows the grading of veal carcasses between 80kg and 180kg. Beef carcasses are carcasses weighing more than 180kg or carcasses weighing under 180kg with specific maturity characteristics set out in Schedule II of the federal Livestock and Poultry Carcass Grading Regulation. These maturity characteristics would identify this animal as an older animal that would not qualify as veal.

New Auctions

In 2009, OMAFRA licenced two new livestock auctions; Aylmer Stockyards Inc, and Maple Hill Auctions Ltd., while one additional auction changed ownership.

OMAFRA has taken a number of steps to address the issues associated with unfit and compromised animals arriving at licenced sale facilities, including enforcement of the requirement that diseased or compromised livestock are segregated from healthy livestock at auctions, an advisory letter follow up for all animals euthanized, significant education of producers and dealer through presentations across the province on compromised and unfit animals, and working with our partners in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA), Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA), Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) and the Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC).

Activities Planned for 2010 Include:

• Increased monitoring of standards surrounding the sale of veal and beef to ensure un-graded beef is not being marketed as veal
• Maintaining current inspection levels at licensed auction facilities, monitoring for compliance and performing advisory activities with a focus on high risk facilities
• Continued co-operation with licensed auction facilities, dealers, and producers to improve animal health and welfare of animals marketed at licenced facilities