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Utility of an online learning module for teaching disbudding in dairy calves, including cornual nerve block application
Although disbudding or dehorning dairy heifers is necessary for the safety of humans and other cattle, it has been identified as a key animal welfare issue when done without appropriate analgesia. Three-quarters of disbudding or dehorning is done by dairy producers or on-farm staff, the remainder is done by veterinarian or veterinary technician. Reported use of pain control by dairy producers ranges from 15 to 60%. Cautery disbudding is the most commonly used method; best practices include administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and local anesthetic given as a cornual nerve block (CNB), which requires technical training. Teaching methods may involve one-on-one training with a veterinarian. As well, online training videos exist. To our knowledge, none of these methods have been studied for efficacy. Our objective was to determine if an interactive, online module could teach CNB application and cautery disbudding, as compared to hands-on training. Thirty-four student participants were assigned to either hands-on training or to self-directed online training. Assessments were performed by a blinded evaluator who examined knowledge, handling, CNB technique, disbudding technique, time taken, and self-confidence. Success of CNB was defined as a lack of pain-related behaviors during the first five seconds of disbudding iron application. The hands-on training group had no CNB failures, while online training had 25% CNB failures (P = 0.13). Online learners were significant less confident (P < 0.01), had poorer handling (P = 0.02), CNB (P = 0.05), and disbudding (P = 0.05) technical skills, and took more time to perform all tasks (P = 0.03). Although online learning alone was surprisingly effective for a psycho-motor skill, best practices should include hands-on training. Online learning alone may be appropriate for hard to reach populations, or as a preliminary step to hands-on training.
Keywords: calf, dehorn, pain control