UWRF Humane Handling Institute

10/06/2026

We are so proud of Karly and Olivia and can’t wait to see the results of this research! Read this article to learn more about upcoming projects about various commercially available captive bolt models and how effective they would be on different breeds of cattle that haven’t received much attention in the humane stunning scientific literature (yet!)🧠

09/29/2026

There's still time to register for our Advanced Stunning Equipment Maintenance and Testing workshop on October 8th!

💥Course fee is $750 per trainee
💥If you cannot to bring your own equipment, we have training tools that you can use instead!

09/24/2026

Did you know that if a pig is stressed or needs a break, that a handler can help them sit them down on their hind end...? Neither did we! This is why we love working with people that are out in the field working with these animals everyday! 🐷
Thanks to Jeremy and Shannon from Redwood Farms Meat Processors for teaching us this magic trick! 🪄

09/24/2026

The September Humane Hand newsletter just hit your email inbox!
Click on this link to see the newsletter contents -> https://conta.cc/4h822Mu

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09/22/2026

We held our first hands-on humane handling, stunning and basic equipment maintenance workshop of the fall 2026 season last week and it definitely was one to remember! This group of trainees had great insights, thoughtful questions, and even taught us a few things! (stay tuned for a post later this week 👀)

Thanks for working with us!
🐷 Redwood Farms Meat Processors (Estherville, Iowa)
🐄 Circuit Creek Meat (Rumney, New Hampshire)
🐏UW-Madison Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery (Madison, Wisconsin)
🐖 National Pork Board (Taylor, Arizona)

09/22/2026

Keep Them Comfortable to the End: Humane Handling at the Time of Harvest

Humane handling at the time of slaughter isn’t just a legal requirement; it’s the right thing to do. Exceeding the minimum legal requirements also improves the quality of the meat harvested and meets the demands of a growing segment of shoppers.

Experts from UWRF Humane Handling Institute will join Flower Hill Institute for a one-hour online roundtable covering steps that can be taken and resources available to help processors ensure that livestock stay calm and free from pain at the time of harvest.

The roundtable will cover humane animal handling, stunning equipment maintenance, and effective stunning techniques. Register now at: https://ow.ly/vXcw50ZPgii

09/17/2026

We're excited to welcome trainees to our new classroom training space this morning! Stay tuned to see what our Humane Handling and Stunning workshop looks like over the next two days!

09/15/2026

A great article written by our very own Dr. Karly Anderson!

🐮 Animal Handling

Every FSIS enforcement action tells a story, and a new review from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls suggests many humane handling incidents may be preventable with stronger training and response protocols.

The review found that 93% of enforcement actions involved stunning-related incidents, highlighting the importance of proper stunner placement, restraint and equipment selection.

📰 Read more: https://ow.ly/8NpT50ZNxjm

📸: Pat Deninger

09/10/2026

Have you ever wondered what it is like to attend one of our Humane Handling and Stunning workshops? Check out this video for a behind the scenes look!

Our last Humane Handling and Stunning Workshop of 2026 will be held September 17-18, and registration closes on Friday, September 11. If you're interested in attending, you can learn more here: https://www.uwrf.edu/humane-handling-institute/learn-us

09/08/2026

We're excited to share that Olivia Barber has joined us to pursue her Master's in Agricultural Education (Animal Welfare Emphasis)! Olivia graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls last year and has previously worked with us as a Program Technician. Her graduate program is supported by funding from the Dairy Innovation Hub and she will be working on a series of USDA-funded research projects focused on captive bolt placement for Holstein steers, cull Jersey cows, and Holstein breeding bulls. We're excited to welcome Olivia back to the team!