Species that can be slaughtered under the VAMI program are limited to domestic livestock.
“The Video Ante-Mortem (VAMI) program allows for an ante-mortem inspection by video for animals that cannot be transported to an abattoir so that they may be humanely slaughtered on site,” says Kelly Sawka, operations manager north, with Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development. “The program has already assisted several producers who had animals that were lame and difficult to transport.”
Once the animal has passed ante-mortem inspection by video the animal must be humanely stunned and bled and transported to a participating provincially-licensed abattoir for a post-mortem inspection and where additional activities related to slaughter are completed.
The meat may be sold if both an ante-mortem inspection and a post-mortem inspection have been conducted and passed, and the meat has been deemed fit for human consumption.