A 1-wk elective rotation for final-year veterinary students began in 2016 at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph, to teach current scientific knowledge and practical elements of dairy cattle welfare. The rotation was developed as a response to a veterinary curriculum mapping exercise that identified gaps in welfare training, and from a private funding opportunity from Saputo Inc. to train veterinary students about dairy cattle welfare. The main objectives were to train students to (1) recall existing dairy welfare standards and recognize deficits; (2) carry out practical on-farm dairy cattle welfare assessments; (3) communicate with clients and colleagues about animal welfare. The rotation runs twice per academic calendar with a maximum of 12 student participants per offering; 6 spaces held for OVC students and 6 spaces for students from other American Veterinary Medical Association accredited schools. Learning is a balance of seminar style/interactive teaching, on-farm, student exercises, and open discussions around key and current dairy welfare issues. Students are evaluated through participation, presentations on key dairy welfare issues and farm reports prepared after conducting a proAction animal care assessment. Central components of the rotation are: defining welfare; identifying and prioritizing welfare issues affecting dairy cattle; Canada’s proAction animal care assessment; cull cow decision-making, disbudding procedures; management of down cows and euthanasia decisions; students training in lesion scoring, lameness, and body condition; farm tours with a welfare focus. To date rotation effectiveness has been evaluated with student feedback. Students from the 5 veterinary colleges in Canada and veterinary students studying in Illinois, and Michigan have been involved in the elective. Financial support of Saputo Inc. to create this elective is gratefully acknowledged.