MORE THAN JUST A SCRATCH: GROOMING BRUSHES FOR DAIRY CATTLE

Watching a cow groom herself with an automated brush is often a highlight for non-farm visitors to our farm. The skill with which a cow maneuvers the bristles around her body never ceases to amaze those in attendance. Providing access to a brush promotes natural grooming behavior in cows, improves cow hygiene, and helps visitors feel confident about the care our cows receive.

Grooming brushes are not unique to our farm. They are becoming more common on farms for several good reasons. Indoor housed cows are highly motivated to use a grooming brush because they don’t have access to trees or other natural structures for scratching. Although grooming is a natural behavior, it is considered non-essential. Researchers at the University of British Colombia (UBC) have suggested the amount of time that a cow spends using mechanical grooming may be a sensitive indicator of animal health and welfare.

Use of mechanical grooming brushes is influenced by several factors. Brush use increases when fewer cows share each brush and cows are more likely to use a brush when it is located near feed or water according to UBC research. The brushes at our farm are typically placed near waterers, often in our wide crossover alleys.

Although grooming is nonessential, unlike feeding and drinking, a grooming brush is valued resource that cows will fight over. On our farm, we have a mechanical rotating and swinging brush that occasionally blows a fuse. The longer cows are without access to the brush, the more aggressive the competition becomes once it is operational again. Dominant cows tend to use a brush sooner, more frequently, and for a longer duration than subordinate cows. Kentucky researchers suggested no more than 60 cows per brush to avoid brush overstocking and reduce issues with competition.

Over the years we have installed several different types of brushes in pens for both lactating and dry cows. These have ranged from 2-way scratch stationary brushes to flex swing brushes to mechanically rotating and swinging brushes. Although we have never formally tested brush preference on our farm, the enthusiasm cows show for the rotating and swinging brushes would certainly make me bet on that style being their favorite.

Recent work from Dr. Neave’s group at Purdue sheds some light on brush preference. Their study evaluated cow preferences for 3 brushes that were similar in appearance and materials but differed mechanically: 1) stationary, 2) swinging, and 3) swinging and rotating. Over 9 days, each cow had access to all the brushes during 5-min test sessions. Overall, 71% of the cows preferred the swinging-rotating brush, 21% preferred the swinging-only brush, and 8% preferred the stationary brush. Interestingly, grooming time varied by brush type and body part (see table).

Cows used the stationary brush almost exclusively for the head and rarely engaged it for other body parts. This brush likely provided more tactile precision for head grooming. Cows use the swinging-rotating brush more than the stationary brush, but not the swinging-only brush to groom the neck. For grooming the back and rump areas, cows favored both the swinging-rotating and swinging-only brushes over than the stationary brush.

Overall, cows showed a clear preference for brushes that could swing. The researchers noted that although all brushes were made from similar materials, the ability to rotate or swing was an important feature. These design elements allowed cows to groom a wider range of body parts more easily and likely contribute to the brush’s enrichment value. The interactive nature of the brush occurred when a cow pushed against it, activated movement, and provided both visual and physical stimulation.

Grooming brushes are more than just a scratch. They are a smart investment in cow welfare and a visible demonstration of our commitment to responsible animal care.

̶ Heather Dann

dann@whminer.com