PLATTEVILLE – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneer Farm installed a DeLaval swinging cow brush on Oct. 22 as part of a Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement project. According to DeLaval’s website, the circular brush starts to rotate on contact at an animal-friendly speed, swinging freely in all directions up, over and alongside the cow. The bristles possess the right length and hardness to stimulate blood circulation while helping to keep the cow clean and calm.
According to Dr. Tera Montgomery, assistant professor of dairy science and dairy management at the UW-Platteville School of Agriculture, cows love to scratch on things. Made by DeLaval, a global, full-service supplier to dairy farmers, the swinging cow brush allows Pioneer Farm cows an outlet for the need to scratch, relieving some of the wear and tear on other parts of the buildings and equipment.
Montgomery explained the additional benefits, including research opportunities, as well.
“We are looking at production and behavior of cows that have access to the brush and cows that don’t, with the assumption that the cows that have access to the brush will be cleaner, happier and healthier,” she said. “Hopefully we will see the cows move in more positive ways toward water and feed, an increase in milk production and a decrease in udder infections.”
A study conducted by Cornell University in 2009 on cow brushes showed better animal health due to an increase in blood circulation and lactation. It also concluded that clinical mastitis was 34 percent lower for cows using a brush.
These findings are precisely the reason Montgomery and Cory Weigel, dairy enterprise manager for UW-Platteville Pioneer Farm, were interested in installing a cow brush.
“Cory and I have been looking for ways to improve the farm,” said Montgomery. “We thought this would make a great PACCE project, and the research will benefit the farm. Also, the cows just look happy using it.”
For more information about the installation of or research findings from the cow brush, contact Montgomery at (608) 342-6027 or montgomeryt@uwplatt.edu.
Written by: Sarah Miller, UW-Platteville Office of Public Relations