Contact Us
Humane Handling Institute
hhi@uwrf.edu
715-425-4987
Making Informed Decisions
The Humane Handling Institute provides expert training in humane animal handling, stunning equipment maintenance, and effective stunning techniques. Resources include guidance aimed at promoting best practices and ensuring animal welfare in meat processing facilities. These resources help improve skills, enhance product quality, and build consumer trust.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. Please utilize the resources below or speak with a trusted professional today.
- Mental Health & Wellness, National Milk Producers Federation https://www.nmpf.org/resources/mental-health-and-wellness/
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: a free and confidential service that is available 24/7. Anyone can access the Lifeline by calling 988 (multiple languages available), texting a message to 988 (English only) or using the chat feature at 988lifeline.org (English only).
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- National Crisis Text Line: Text 741741
- Trevor Lifeline: provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people. Call 1-866-488-7386.
- Turningpoint: for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Call 1-800-345-5104 or 715-821-8626.
- Stun Placement for Dairy Cows (Anderson et al., 2025)
- Stun Placement for Bison (Matzek et al., 2025)
- Captive Bolt Placement for Mature Yaks (Hamilton et al., 2024)
- Captive Bolt Type and Placement for Sows > 440 lbs (200 kg) (Anderson et al., 2024)
- Broken Tails in Holstein Cows (Olsen et al., 2023)
- Captive Bolt Placement for Mature Swine < 440 lbs (200 kg) (Anderson et al., 2024)
- Captive Bolt Placement for Mature Swine > 440 lbs (200 kg) (Anderson et al., 2021)
- Head Only vs Head-Heart Electrical Stunning for Swine (Vogel et al., 2011)
In the News
- Meat and Poultry, July 2025
- Eau Claire Leader Telegram, May 2025
- The Cap Times, July 2024
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 2024
- Leader-Telegram, June 2024
- UWRF’s Humane Handling Institute secures $1 million gift from Rosen Family Foundation, Inc.
- Meat and Poultry, June 2024
- Meat and Poultry, March 2023
- WPR Morning Show, December 2022
- AGRI-VIEW, November 2022
Endorsements
- Livestock Receiving and Lairage
- Stunning Equipment Operation and Maintenance
Trainees have the option of selecting the workshops that fit their needs or completing the entire series of workshops and an additional project for comprehensive certification. Trainees that complete the series and project will receive a certificate in humane handling and stunning and the limited rights to utilize the program logo in marketing and promotional materials.