Do I brush my hair every day? Nope. Sure don’t. But I like to have the option of owning a brush to do so if and when I wish.

Dairy cows are similar; grooming is important and we want to ensure they have the opportunity to do so when they wish. We want them to feel clean, socially satisfied and happy.

Reasons grooming is important for cows:

• Hygiene: grooming cleans the cow’s coat of parasites and organisms

• Social: grooming allows for bonding between their herdmates and reduces the impact of hierarchy within the herd

• Stress coping mechanism

Cows naturally find grooming objects when they are out to pasture. However, grooming objects aren’t always as accessible in confinement systems as they are out in the pasture. So many dairy farmers will supplement with a cow brush.  

What is a cow brush you ask? Here are three types of dairy cow brushes:

• Stationary brushes

  • Consists of one horizontal brush and one vertical brush and are often mounted on posts. This is a very low-cost option (typically under $100-$200) and a producer could even potentially make one themselves.

• Rotating brushes

  • Have a brush that rotates on a horizontal arm attached to a motor. The motor also swings left and right, about 45° in each direction. A rotating brush can access a higher percentage of the cow’s back and may be easier for the cow to use. They are at a higher price point than the stationary brushes, about $2,000-$5,000.

• Swinging brushes

  • A swinging brush is similar to a rotating brush except it has an increased range of motion. It can swing back, forth and side to side which leads to an increased grooming area on the cow. These brushes range from $2,000-$5,000 to purchase but are energy efficient.

Information source: University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Check out the below video to watch our cows enjoying a good brushing session!