A purpose built swinging rotating brush with auto stop start design specifically for use by calves. Metal or plastic tower, intended for providing foraging enrichment in pig enclosures. Tower may be filled manually or automatically. Where used in slatted systems, item must have matting, a tray or hopper bowl at base of tower to retain straw. All ferrous metal parts must be fully galvanised, or powder coated. Painted metalwork is not eligible. Wooden elements are not eligible under this item. Cannot be home-made from materials sourced from supplier(s) or items already owned. Fixed gas sensor capable of detecting CO2 gas with a sensor measuring range of at least 0 to 5000ppm CO2. Protection rating of at least IP65. Must be possible to integrate sensor with a new or existing climate / housing management system. Handheld devices are not eligible for this item. Cost is per sensor.

If they’re inside then troughs, railings, walls – anything solid – will also take the brunt of their grooming behaviour. And, if cow brushes are fitted, these will obviously be put through their paces.” They certainly enrich the cow environment. It’s clear to see that cows get a lot of pleasure from the brushes. And the fact that there are also health benefits is the icing on the cake really – and another good reason to consider investing in brushes.” They’re robust pieces of kit and, if the brushes are routinely cleaned and the key moving parts greased regularly, they should provide a good service.Few things are more fascinating to watch than a cow having a good scratch while ‘playing’ with a brush. They enjoy grooming – it’s a natural behaviour that’s key to good health and welfare. Comes with optional clamps and fasteners for clamping on to cubicle frames as well as wall-mounting Automatic on/off control starts the brush rotating on demand, and stops it within 10 seconds after use A feed inventory system for monitoring the amount of feed being stored in a silo and consumed by pigs. Weigh system should fit one feed bin / silo. Must be possible to integrate system into new or existing housing / production management system. Silos and bins are not eligible. Because the plastic shaft that holds the brush will break when it is overloaded it prevents damage to the brush and cow

Multi-layer comfort system with continual cover. A rubber or latex covering, with inclusion of foam, for the cubicle areas of cowsheds. Mattress must be seamless. Must be at least 40mm in depth to be eligible. Cost is per running metre.

What’s available on the market?

A proportional dosing pump which measures a given water flow and adds a suitable additive, usually in the liquid state, into the flow at a set proportion. Studies on swinging cow brushes, that looked at milk production and mastitis incidence. The US-based work showed that second-lactation cows produced 3.5% (1kg) higher daily milk yield. And clinical mastitis was reduced by 34% in the cows in second and higher lactation in the cow-brush pens.

A good brush will not only stimulate blood flow, but also allow the cow to groom parts of her body that other ‘scratching posts’ can’t reach. A brush rotates on a horizontal arm attached to a motor and the motor also swings left and right, about 45deg in each direction.Gate linked to computer control / EID system to draft cattle into two or more groups automatically. Must use either electronic tags, collars or ankle transponders to identify the animal. Must be able to operate automatically with digital weighing system. All ferrous metal parts must be fully galvanised, or powder coated. Painted metalwork is not eligible.

The brush has a sensor which stops it rotating if it meets any resistance, to keep the animals safe and prevent tail hair from getting pulled in.When the cow pushes against the brush it rotates automatically for 60-90 seconds, then switches off until pushed again. A safety sensor stops the brush if it catches the cow’s tail. For that reason, Mr Evanson says it’s not a good idea to just put in one brush to ‘see if the cows take to it’. “Believe me, they will. And they’ll fight over it and it will get ‘hammered’. It will appear to keep the cows happy and busy for so long, but then it will break.”