RCMP photo of livestock during an investigation at a rural location in Wheatland County, east of Calgary, Alberta, February 2023. (Photo: Alberta RCMP)

By David Opinko

Agriculture

Southern Albertan charged in connection to improper care, slaughter and sale of livestock

Mar 2, 2023 | 3:34 PM

WHEATLAND COUNTY, AB – The RCMP has apprehended a man on numerous charges related to livestock.

In November 2022, the Alberta Agriculture Inspections and Investigation Section, RCMP Livestock Investigative Unit (LIU), and Wheatland County said they had received complaints about a person who was slaughtering sick and injured cattle, selling uninspected meat, and unlawfully disposing of dead animals.

On February 21, 2023, the RCMP LIU, Alberta Agriculture, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency searched a property in Wheatland County, a rural area east of Calgary, Alberta.

Police say when investigators entered the property, people were actively slaughtering cattle, and one man was arrested at the scene.

Officers say the suspect was causing unnecessary suffering to cattle by failing to adequately care for and feed the animals.

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Evidence obtained by investigators allegedly shows sick animals and meat sales that are in contravention of Alberta Meat Inspection Regulations.

The RCMP says in a news release that “The sale of uninspected meat has the potential to result in severe illness or death, as it has not been determined safe for human consumption.”

The RCMP release did not indicate where the uninspected meat may have been sold or distributed.

According to investigators, a total of 36 dead calves, multiple cow parts, and more than 100 tags from the slaughtered cows were located.

Peter Wiebe, 59, from Wheatland County, Alberta, has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to animals, allowing or permitting animals to be in distress, unlawfully disposing of cattle, dealing with livestock or livestock products without being licensed, selling uninspected meat, and failing to label meat ‘UNINSPECTED – NOT FOR SALE’.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in Drumheller Provincial Court on March 24, 2023.