Brushing as Environmental Enrichment in Dairy Cattle: Effects of Different Brushing Modalities on Behavior, Health, and Production

In recent years, brushes have been increasingly implemented on dairy farms to improve animal welfare, health, and productivity. This study presents a narrative review of scientific studies published over the past decade, selected based on their evaluation of brushing effects on behavioral, physiological, and production parameters in dairy cattle. The evidence consistently indicates that access to brushes increases grooming behavior and is associated with reductions in stress-related indicators, supporting improved animal welfare. In addition, brush use has been linked to improved hygiene and may serve as a non-invasive behavioral indicator of health status, as reduced usage has been associated with conditions such as metritis and lameness. In contrast, evidence regarding productive responses remains more variable. Some studies report increases in milk yield and changes in milk composition; however, these effects are not consistently observed and appear to depend on factors such as animal characteristics, management conditions, brush accessibility, and study design. Overall, brushing appears to be a promising enrichment strategy, but further standardized and long-term research is required to better establish its effects on production and reproductive performance.