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Humane Handling Institute
hhi@uwrf.edu
715-425-4987
Transform your Approach to Animal Welfare
Dive into our workshops and collaborate with passionate, experienced experts in a friendly, supportive environment. You’ll leave with enhanced skills, greater confidence, and a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of humane handling and stunning.
Our first USDA slaughter was pure success, thanks to some great training from the HHI, we slaughtered 5 beef in 5 hours and passed everything with flying colors from USDA inspectors. This is the first time in 35 years that beef have been slaughtered under USDA inspection within 80 miles of our area.
Shawna Montgomery, Montgomery's Meats, Inc.
Humane Handling and Stunning
Successful stunning is crucial for preventing regulatory consequences, safeguarding animal welfare, and protecting the mental well-being of employees. Handling livestock can be challenging and, in some cases, dangerous. Having a deeper understanding of these animals and how they flow through facilities can make the whole process safer and more efficient. One day of this training is hands-on activities related to head anatomy, identifying the optimal placement of a stun, stunning equipment maintenance, and more. The other day of this training is hands-on activities related to common animal handling challenges, humane restraint, and exploring how animals see the world.
This workshop is ideal for individuals who handle livestock, stun or euthanize animals and/or maintain captive bolt or electrical stunning equipment.
- Hands-on, low-risk stunning simulations
- Real-life animal handling scenarios
- Understand how animals see the world
Contact us for special arrangements to attend only one day of the workshop.
Workshops run 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., both days.
Upcoming Workshop:
- Sept. 17-18, 2026
Cost and Location
Cost:
Two-day workshops are $1,000 per participant, includes lunch and morning refreshments.
Location:
UWRF Campus, specific information for each session will be shared with participants ahead of time.
To reserve your spot, a minimum non-refundable payment of $100 is required. After review, we’ll notify you if any travel or tuition grants are available. The remaining balance will be invoiced.
Cancellation/withdrawal: Cancellations received earlier than ten calendar days before the class start date will receive a refund, less a 10% processing fee. Substitutions and transfers will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you are registered and do not attend the program, you are responsible for the full fee. If we cancel a program, your registration fee will be fully refunded. Additional requirements or exceptions may apply for specific programs and will be noted on registration forms or websites. Substitution, refund, or transfer requests must be submitted via email or phone call to UW-River Falls Continuing Education. 715-425-3256 or continuing.ed@uwrf.edu
Stunning Equipment Maintenance and Testing
Effective stunning starts with functional and reliable equipment. In this workshop, trainees will complete hands-on activities related to stunning equipment maintenance and testing. This workshop is ideal for individuals who maintain captive bolt or electrical stunning equipment.
- Detailed stunning equipment repair and maintenance
- Methods for bench testing stunning equipment
Workshop runs 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Upcoming workshop:
- Oct. 8
Cost and Location
Cost:
One-day workshops are $750 per participant, includes lunch and morning refreshments.
Location:
UWRF Campus, specific information for each session will be shared with participants ahead of time.
To reserve your spot, a minimum non-refundable payment of $100 is required. After review, we’ll notify you if any travel or tuition grants are available. The remaining balance will be invoiced.
Cancellation/withdrawal: Cancellations received earlier than ten calendar days before the class start date will receive a refund, less a 10% processing fee. Substitutions and transfers will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you are registered and do not attend the program, you are responsible for the full fee. If we cancel a program, your registration fee will be fully refunded. Additional requirements or exceptions may apply for specific programs and will be noted on registration forms or websites. Substitution, refund, or transfer requests must be submitted via email or phone call to UW-River Falls Continuing Education. 715-425-3256 or continuing.ed@uwrf.edu
Building a Humane Handling Program for Your Facility- online!
A humane handling plan (also known as a Robust Systematic Approach to Animal Welfare) has many benefits, such as preventing handling and stunning problems, as well as providing evidence that a mistake was a one-time occurrence if something goes wrong. Building a plan on your own can be intimidating or confusing, but it does not have to be. This workshop follows a simplified Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) program format but specifically focused on parts of the slaughter process have the potential for animals to experience excitement, discomfort, or accidental injury. Trainees will leave this workshop with a complete humane handling plan, including digital documents specific to their slaughter establishment that are ready to use.
- Create a collection of establishment-specific protocols and documentation
- Leave with a "robust ready" humane handling plan
Contact us to be notified when registration opens!
UWRF Students:
Humane Handling and Stunning Workshop- Student Session
This workshop is offered specifically for UWRF students but is the same content as meat plant personnel receive.
Successful stunning is crucial for preventing regulatory consequences, safeguarding animal welfare, and protecting the mental well-being of employees. In this hands-on workshop you will learn head anatomy, optimal placement of a stun, stunning equipment maintenance, and more. Handling livestock can be challenging and, in some cases, dangerous. Animals have a mind of their own and see the world differently than we do. Having a deeper understanding of these animals and how they flow through a slaughter facility, livestock market, or handling facilities on a farm can make the whole process safer and more efficient. In this workshop, you will develop a new understanding of how animals see the world, explore common animal handling challenges, and practice methods of humane restraint.
Workshop runs 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., both days.
Upcoming workshop:
- Oct. 22-23
Location
Specific information for each session will be shared with participants at registration.
Who should attend the Humane Handling Institute workshops?
The Humane Handling Institute workshops provide as much hands-on experience as possible for trainees. Past attendees include barn supervisors and management personnel, livestock handlers, stunner operators, maintenance personnel, transporters, livestock market employees, and managers from slaughter establishments of all sizes.
Plan Your Visit
UW-River Falls is located 40 miles from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The closest hotel to campus is the Radisson Hotel River Falls. Accommodations are not included in the registration and should be made separately. You may qualify for a travel expense grant from Kinder Ground, ask us how.
The City of River Falls is a thriving and growing community located east of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in northwestern Wisconsin. With a population of 16,183 residents and 5,862 college students, the City offers 26 parks, miles of hiking and biking trails along the Kinnikinnic River and a vibrant downtown. There are restaurants, shops, grocery stores and gas stations located a safe and walkable distance from campus.
If you require additional assistance or have questions regarding your registration, please email: hhi@uwrf.edu