Source: DeLaval news release
Company’s popular self-grooming swinging cow brush ranks best in German test.
Hannover, Germany (Nov. 16, 2010) -- DeLaval presented the latest version of its swinging cow brush (SCB) this week at the EuroTier showground in Hannover, Germany. The upgraded release improves grooming angles with two separated pivot points, includes a unique safety mechanism for better cow and user safety and reduces energy consumption by 26%.
The market introduction of the latest DeLaval SCB coincides with the publication of a new study on cow brushes published by the German magazine dlz. Eight different cow grooming brushes were tested in a long-term in-situ test from August 2008 to April 2009. The two stage test observed four groups of cows with 30 cows in each; each group tested two different brushes, for four months each. The dlz focus was on cow behavior and the SCB was found to be best in test.
“We are delighted to see yet another test supporting the superiority of our swinging cow brush,” said DeLaval Vice President Business Area Aftermarket & Services Tim Nicolaï. “The SCB had by far the fullest grooming cycles per day, keeping the cows that used it calm, clean, active, and more balanced. And this is welcome news for the farmer as the brush boosts milk production by improving the animal’s blood circulation and helping reduce clinical mastitis.”
A 2009 Cornell University study concluded that second lactation cows using the DeLaval SCB showed a significant increase in daily milk production of up to +1kg per day. The Cornell research team also found an important drop in clinical mastitis cases (over 30%) among second and older lactation cows housed in pens with a DeLaval SCB present.
