Intro:
Animal welfare can feel complex on busy farms, but practical tools and repeatable processes make it manageable—and measurably better. For decades, Bock Industries has focused on simplifying humane handling with equipment, training, and on-farm support. In this Q&A, Swine Web’s Jim Eadie speaks with Randall Bock about science-based stunning, common pain points, and simple upgrades that improve outcomes without adding burden to the workday.
Q: Bock Industries has been involved in animal welfare for many years. What inspired your focus on making welfare simpler for farmers?
A: We did our homework on animal welfare. For us, animal welfare became understandable through a combined study of animal science and engineering principles. Our specialty is animal welfare at slaughter—whether that’s normal stock culling, biosecurity, or plant processing. Our captive-bolt tools make handling all these requirements easy, effective, and humane.
We’ve learned the scientific reasons that make animal welfare at slaughter humane and measurable. Farmers are busy people doing important work; our mission is to make this particularly hard job easier and consistently humane. Building on our engineering expertise, we have developed tools that efficiently support welfare objectives with convenience.
Q: What are the most common challenges producers face when it comes to animal welfare on farms?
A: For farmers and processors, the challenge is to improve animal welfare without adding to the workload. It’s essential to communicate that good welfare ultimately increases profit by reducing downgrades at the processing plant.
Science has proven that enhancing welfare at slaughter means animals become instantly unconscious and do not feel the method. In essence, our percussive stunning systems stop brain function quickly and painlessly. When farms understand the effect on the animal, they’re eager to improve this area of welfare. Our systems make this difficult task easy and effective.
Q: How do your products and training programs help farmers meet welfare standards like AVMA guidelines or the Five Freedoms?
A: The AVMA encourages users of traditional manual methods to look for alternatives that provide more consistent outcomes. Our percussive stunning systems provide an immediate and permanent solution—supported by science as humane and recognized in AVMA guidance for appropriate use with young pigs.
Freedom Three of the Five Freedoms calls for freedom from pain, injury, or disease. Our method delivers rapid, humane euthanasia, helping farms and processors comply with welfare directives and audits.
Q: What practical steps can producers take right now to improve animal welfare without feeling overwhelmed?
A: Start with the simple upgrades. Choose equipment that makes difficult welfare jobs easy and repeatable. A reliable percussive stunning system replaces uncertainty with confidence—it works instantly and consistently. Add brief routine checks to existing workflows; a few minutes of maintenance ensures the same humane outcome every time. Finally, communicate the “why” behind welfare. When everyone understands the science, care becomes instinctive. Small steps, repeated daily, redefine the culture of welfare on any farm.
Q: How has technology or innovation changed the way farms approach welfare practices over the years?
A: Technology has transformed welfare from guesswork to measurable. Early practices relied on strength and experience. Today, engineering and data confirm results. Modern percussive systems deliver calibrated energy, tested for consistency even in demanding farm conditions.
Training has evolved too—digital guides and real-time feedback help verify outcomes. Innovation has replaced uncertainty with repeatability, turning welfare into a controlled process instead of a matter of judgment.
Q: Why is proper training just as important as having the right equipment?
A: A humane device is only as good as the person operating it. Training connects intention to technique. Farms with excellent tools sometimes struggle simply because operators lack confidence or timing. Once staff understand why and how the method works, their actions become calm, precise, and humane.
Training spreads expertise across the whole team, so welfare doesn’t depend on one person—it becomes standard practice. That’s how consistent outcomes are achieved.
Q: What do you see as the next big opportunity in animal welfare for the agricultural industry?
A: The next opportunity is integration—making welfare a built-in part of daily farm management, not a separate task. As devices become lighter, smarter, and data-enabled, welfare outcomes will continue to improve while saving labor.
Beyond the technology, there’s a broader shift happening; welfare is being recognized as good business. Measurable welfare builds consumer trust and operational efficiency. The future belongs to farms that lead with humane precision—simple, smart, and scientifically sound.
Bock Industries, Inc.
Bock Industries, Inc.
156 Bock Lane
Philipsburg PA 16866 USA
814-777-3890
randall@bock-industries.com
