On farm tours, watching cows use brushes is something that often catches visitors’ attention and delights them. Even people unfamiliar with cow behavior can easily recognize how much they enjoy using brushes. In fact, research has shown that this perception is accurate. A study in Canada found that lactating cows were willing to push heavy gates to get access to an automatic rotating brush. This indicated that having a brush was important to them.
It has become increasingly common to see grooming brushes in lactating cow pens on dairy farms. Many producers have said they mainly invested in brushes for cow hygiene. Another important benefit of brushes is that they also improve the cows’ mental well-being.
Animal welfare is not only about good physical health, but it also involves how an animal feels. To have good welfare, they should not only experience minimal suffering but also have opportunities for positive experiences. One way to offer these opportunities is with environmental enrichment, such as brushes. Brushes are considered valid environmental enrichment for cattle because they are something the animals are interested in and have been shown to have welfare benefits.
An easy option
Automatic brushes are attractive to cows, but they can be a significant financial investment. The good news is there are low-cost ways to provide brushes too. Cows, heifers, and calves are also willing to use stationary brushes, even ones not specifically designed for cattle. Studies in the U.S. and New Zealand have reported that calves as young as 2 to 4 weeks old will use either rotating brushes or simple stationary ones. Similarly, in studies we conducted in the U.S. and Canada, we found that postweaned heifers will use simple stationary brushes within a few minutes, or even seconds, after first encountering them.
Cattle mostly use smaller stationary brushes to groom their heads and necks. They don’t provide as much of a full-body grooming experience as rotating brushes can. However, an upside of stationary brushes is that they allow younger calves and heifers to lick and chew on the bristles. This provides them with a more appropriate outlet for normal oral behaviors that may otherwise get misdirected onto their pen mates. We have found that postweaned heifers do not have a preference for whether simple brushes are mounted horizontally or vertically, allowing flexibility in how producers choose to install them.
Brushes are a form of environmental enrichment that can be readily implemented on the farm to benefit cattle of all ages. They can improve both physical well-being and hygiene as well as the mental aspects of dairy cattle welfare. What’s more, providing brushes can help farmers showcase to the public their commitment to high-quality animal care.
