Design and development of cattle grooming unit for enhancement of hygiene, welfare and performance

Introduction

Grooming is a natural and essential behaviour for cattle. According to reports, grooming behavior may have a connection to stress, health, and physiological status calving (Newby et al, 2013) [9] . Mechanical brushes used in free stall barns may enable cows to self-groom more body parts, hence decreasing boredom, tension, and dirt (Mandel et al, 2013) [10] . Inadequate grooming practices can lead to a host of health issues in cattle, with diseases such as mastitis, lameness, and various skin infections becoming prevalent. These conditions not only affect the health and productivity of the cattle but also increase veterinary costs and reduce the quality of milk. Effective grooming not only enhances the well-being and productivity of cattle but also plays a critical role in preventing disease spread, improving milk quality, and ensuring overall herd health. Regular grooming helps to detect early signs of health issues, allowing for timely intervention. Cattle groom naturally, and it seems to serve a number of significant purposes, such as maintaining the coat's hygienic condition (Rich, Kohari et al., 2009) [4] and preserving social ties (Faerevik et al. Young calves can benefit from having access to a brush, and mechanical brushes give cows a way to indulge their natural grooming activity of scratching difficult-to-reach parts of their bodies (DeVries et al., 2007) [6] . The main tool used by weaned heifers to groom their (2017) Rosenstein et al. Because of their rapid adoption and consistent usage by adult cows, brushes are advised for housing (Georg and Totschek, 2001; DeVries et al., 2007) [8,6] . Maintaining the animals' efficiency at the desired level, as well as the proper operation of their thermoregulatory systems and overall health, depends heavily on grooming. The head is groomed first, then the back and sides, and finally the tail's base. Cleaning, capillary stimulation, maintenance, and parasite control are further aspects of grooming. The goal of grooming is to get rid of skin and vestigial hair (Serap Goncu et al., 2019) [2] . A developed grooming unit and conventional cow grooming methods took into consideration a number of parameters.

It is not always possible to effectively depict normal behavior in an artificial environment. Their welfare would be affected and they would become frustrated as a result. According to (Ninomiya S., 2014) [11] , appropriate management of animal welfare (e.g. stressor, environmental enrichment) can mitigate several issues related to a harsh or poor habitat.

Review literature

Moran, J. (1993) [1] this research shows the highest groomed body area with 11% of grooming cows' necks, 3% of thighs and 86% of head. In addition, cattle use the brushes to soothe by scratching their neck and the ears' back, which are sensitive to touch by using the brush. Emilie McConnachie et al., (2018) in natural environments, cattle use trees and other abrasive surfaces to scratch and groom themselves. Modern indoor dairy cattle housing systems often lack appropriate grooming substrates, restricting the animals' ability to groom. We assessed the motivation of dairy cows to access an automated mechanical brush, a grooming resource that can be implemented in indoor cattle housing systems. Results indicate that cows are highly motivated to access a mechanical brush and that it is an important resource for cows. Serap Goncu et al., (2019) [2] mentioned some problems with technological grooming instruments. Cattle grooming removes dirt, dust, and parasites, improves blood circulation, and massages muscles. However, issues like unsuitable brush size or placement, operational malfunctions, and improper use may cause wounds, reducing benefits. Despite these challenges, research continues to develop more efficient grooming devices for cow comfort. Grooming is recognized as a welfare indicator, and integrating welfare instruments with modern technologies enhances animal wellbeing, ultimately supporting productivity and profitability. Shigeru Ninomiya (2019) investigated an effect of an animal self-grooming and welfare of fattening cattle. Results show that providing a brush as environmental enrichment improves welfare by satisfying the motivation of fattening cattle to perform self-grooming. Kelebaone Tsamaase explained a dip spraying system which can be used to spray dip mixture on livestock such as cattle for control of parasites. The system is designed in such a way that it can be used at remote locations where there is no extension of national electricity grid. The results obtained show that the system is effective and can be installed at places without any access to electric grid. Effectiveness of the system is such showing that it can spray the whole body of the animal at once within a limited period of time.

Materials and Methods

The cattle grooming unit was designed and developed at ICAR-AICRP on MAH, VNMKV, Parbhani. The isometric view of the unit is shown in Fig. 1 The grooming unit is equipped with two grooming brushes, each measuring 600 mm in length and 375 mm in diameter, designed to cover a significant area of the animal's coat during brushing. These brushes feature bristles 2 mm thick, which are optimal for efficiently removing dirt, dust, and parasites, promoting better skin health and overall well-being of the animals. Powered by a robust 1 HP motor, the grooming brushes operate at a controlled speed of 30 rpm, balancing effective cleaning with gentle handling to avoid stress on the animals. To enhance operational efficiency and user convenience, the grooming unit incorporates an area-type proximity sensor, with a range of 1-3 meters, are placed near the brush and controlled by panel which ensures that the brushes operate within the specified area, optimizing cleaning effectiveness while conserving energy and minimizing operational costs. This sensor technology contributes to the unit's reliability in maintaining consistent grooming standards across different animals and usage scenarios. Overall, these design specifications reflect a commitment to enhancing animal welfare and productivity in agricultural practices. By integrating sturdy construction, precise dimensions, and advanced sensor technology, the grooming unit offers a reliable solution for maintaining cleanliness and health in cattle, supporting farmers in their efforts to optimize animal care and management. Brushes are kept in such a way as to apply the best pressure on the skin to stimulate blood circulation for best performance.

Data collection

Conducted trials in all summer, rainy and winter season as following treatments are done for observing changes in cattle before and after grooming some dependent parameters are considered for study as mentioned in table 1 and trials are taken on different bullock as shown in Fig. 2.

Results and Discussion

The physiological improvements are critical for maintaining optimal metabolic processes and overall health, which are essential for maximizing the productivity and efficiency of working animals. The reduction in stress and discomfort, as evidenced by the improved physiological parameters as shown in table 2, 4, 6, underscores the importance of regular and efficient grooming practices. Table 3 and graph 1 shows that, as compared to the control, practice T 1 resulted in the greatest improvement in overall hygiene, minimum morbidity and was most effective in reducing skin infections and T 2 resulted in lower morbidity. The treatments T 3 and T 4 produced superior ectoparasite reduction, whereas T 2 was more effective in reducing morbidity, skin infection and fatigue score. Graph 3: Per cent improvement in bullock by using developed grooming unit over T0 in winter season Table 7 and graph 3 shows that treatment T 3 was found to be the most effective for winter season, as it achieved the highest removal of dags and dirt, maximum reduction in ectoparasite load, morbidity, and skin infections, along with the greatest improvement in fatigue score. Consequently, T 3 recorded the highest overall improvement Time efficiency is significantly improved as well, the developed unit, achieving between 76.67% and 88.33% time savings and enhances cleaning efficiency by up to 2.5 times for removing dags, dirt, and ectoparasites. This notable enhancement in hygiene reduces the risk of skin infections, ectoparasite infestations, and related health issues. Cleaner animals are less likely to suffer from infections, which translates to lower morbidity rates and better overall health.

Conclusion

The study is conducted for bullock for summer, rainy and winter season from this it is concluded that twice grooming weekly (T 1 = 29.09% improvement), is significant in summer season, alternate day grooming (T 2 = 20.35% improvement) for rainy season and daily grooming (T 3 = 26.23% improvement) for winter season are beneficial for bullocks.

The result shows that improvements in animal health, hygiene, and productivity, combined with the economic benefits of reduced labor and time requirements, make a strong argument for adopting mechanized solutions in dairy farming and animal husbandry. Regular and efficient grooming not only enhances the welfare of the animals but also contributes to the sustainability and profitability of farming operations.

The transition from traditional practices to mechanized grooming represents a significant advancement in animal husbandry. The positive outcomes of this study provide a clear roadmap for farmers and agricultural practitioners looking to improve animal welfare and operational efficiency.

As labor costs continue to rise and the demand for sustainable animal rearing grows, the adoption of mechanized solutions will play a vital role in shaping the future of animal husbandry. The benefits of mechanized grooming extend beyond immediate health improvements, fostering a more productive, sustainable, and economically viable livestock farming environment.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementAuthors are highly grateful to officials of All India Coordinated Research Project on Mechanization in Animal Husbandry funded by ICAR New Delhi for providing necessary facility to conduct this study.

References

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