An Animal Unit (a.u.) is a standard measurement used by the municipality to determine the environmental impact of livestock on a piece of land.

Instead of counting every individual animal, the municipality uses this unit to “level the playing field” between different types of livestock based on how much nitrogen they produce in a year.

Understanding the Concept

Think of an “Animal Unit” like a “budget” for your land.

  • Large animals (like a dairy cow) use up a large portion of that budget.

  • Small animals (like chickens) use up a very tiny portion.

  • The Goal: The total “Animal Units” on your property must stay within the limit allowed for your specific zone to protect the soil and water.

How to Calculate Your Animals

To figure out how many animals you can have, follow these three steps using the Bylaw:

 

Step A: Identify your Zone

First, find your property on the Zoning Map. This indicates whether you are in a Rural (RGZ, RM1, RM2), Residential (RSR), or General Development (GD) zone.

Step B: Find your “Budget” (Animal Unit Limit)

Look at the Use and Bulk Requirements Table for your specific zone.

  • For example, in Rural Zones (Table 4.6), the Bylaw specifies how many Animal Units are allowed as a “Permitted” use versus a “Conditional” use (which requires special Council approval).

  • Some zones may have a limit of “0” animal units for certain types of operations.

Step C: Convert Animals to Units using the Summary Table

The Bylaw includes Table 4.9: Animal Unit Summary Table. This table lists the “Animal Unit” value for different livestock. You multiply the number of animals you want by the factor in the table.

Example Calculation (Using typical values)

If the table states that 1.0 Animal Unit is equal to 200 laying hens:

  • If your zone allows for 2.0 Animal Units, you could have up to 400 hens ($2.0 times 200 = 400$).

  • If you only want 20 hens, you would only be using 0.1 Animal Units ($20 / 200 = 0.1$), which is likely well within the limit for most rural areas.

Below is the Animal Units Simplified for your convenience:

Important Restrictions

  • Livestock Operations: If your total animal units exceed a certain threshold (often 10 a.u. or more, depending on the zone), you are classified as a “Livestock Operation” and must follow much stricter rules regarding how far your barns must be from your neighbour’s house.

  • Nitrogen Limit: The entire system is based on the rule that 1 Animal Unit equals 73.00 kg (160.93 lb.) of nitrogen produced per year. This ensures the land can safely handle the manure produced.