Cattle Brushes: Coat Grooming and More Calm in Your Herd

Cattle Brushes: Coat Grooming the Animals Do Themselves

Cattle like to rub, and if there is no suitable spot they will use posts, drinkers or walls instead. A cattle brush offers a better alternative: the animals groom their own coats, work loose hair out during the moult and reach places they otherwise cannot. The result is calmer animals and noticeably less wear on your barn fittings.

Fixed, swinging and electric models

Simple wall brushes are mounted firmly and manage entirely without technology. They go up quickly and suit smaller groups well, or serve as an extra point elsewhere in the barn. Half round versions wrap around more of the neck and flank. Swinging brushes hang on a movable mount and give way when an animal leans in. They work without power and need no connection. Electric models set themselves in motion on contact and turn by themselves, which goes down well in larger herds. On top of that there are curry combs and hand brushes for targeted grooming.

Fitting, position and care

The position has a lot to do with how well a brush is accepted. A spot in the walking area has proved its worth, where animals pass by anyway without creating a bottleneck. The height follows the group, lower for young stock and higher for full grown cows. A solid fixing into load bearing ground matters, because considerable forces build up during rubbing. Clean hair and dirt off the bristles regularly. On models with a replaceable head, a worn brush can be swapped on its own without renewing the whole unit.

Frequently asked questions

Does a cattle brush need power?
Not necessarily. Fixed and swinging brushes work without a connection. Electric models turn on contact and need a power supply in the barn.

Where is the best place to fit the brush?
In the walking area, at a point animals pass regularly and where no crowding builds up. The surface underneath has to be load bearing.

How often does the brush have to be replaced?
That depends on herd size and use. Flattening bristles are the sign. On many models only the brush head needs renewing.