Comparison of an online learning module to hands-on training in teaching a cautery disbudding technique for dairy calves including cornual nerve block application.

Disbudding and dehorning are common procedures on dairy farms. In a recent survey of Ontario dairy producers, 38% reported not using local anesthetic for these procedures. Use of pain control is important for both calf welfare and industry sustainability. Use of local anesthetic requires technical training, typically provided by a veterinarian, although online training videos also exist. Neither method has been studied for efficacy. Our objective was to compare an online module to hands-on training in teaching naïve participants (veterinary students) to effectively carry out a cornual nerve block and disbud a dairy calf. Participants were assigned to either an online or hands-on training group. Although no statistical differences were seen in success of the nerve block, online learners were less confident and had poorer technical skills. While online learning was surprisingly effective for a psycho-motor skill, best practices should include hands-on training.