The Lely Luna cow brush: smart design, maximum comfort
The Lely Luna is more than just a mechanical brush, it is a carefully engineered enrichment tool designed to promote cow comfort, health and welfare. Built around natural behaviour research, the Luna helps cows groom effectively while ensuring safety, durability and minimal maintenance.
Design and functionality
Seven key design and usage features of the Lely Luna explained
1. Designed for natural scratching: both directions of rotation
Unlike many single‑direction brushes, the Luna changes direction depending on the side the cow approaches from. This two‑direction rotation keeps the bristles in shape for longer, ensuring consistent grooming quality and extended brush lifetime.
2. Spiral‑shaped bristles with two thicknesses
Research shows cows are highly motivated to use mechanical brushes and perform vigorous grooming behaviours [i]. To match this need, the Luna uses spirally positioned bristles with two different thicknesses, creating a wave‑like massage effect. This ensures comfort while effectively removing dirt, dust, loose hair and parasites.
3. 110° swing for optimal mobility
The Luna’s mechanical design allows for a maximum swing of 110°, absorbing and distributing pressure safely while protecting electrical components. Rubber stabilizers prevent overstretching and help extend the product’s life.
4. Safe for cows, built‑in overload protection
Cow safety is essential. If a cow pushes too hard, the brush automatically stops. This contributes to preventing painful friction or skin irritation and makes the Luna suitable for high‑traffic herds.
5. Installation and herd size suitability
- Suitable for about 65 cows per brush (guideline).
- Installed 40 cm above the shoulder height of the smallest cow.
- Not intended for long‑haired cows or cows with loose neck collars.
6. Proven benefits according to Lely and independent sources
The Luna stimulates blood circulation, relaxes muscles, reduces stress, removes itchy debris and encourages cows to move more [ii]. This aligns with scientific literature showing that mechanical brushes:
- Improve physical wellbeing
- Reduce stress
- Lower risk of irritation and skin issues
- Increase activity and encourage feeding behaviour
7. Durable, electric, low‑maintenance build
The Luna is fully electric efficient and designed with minimal moving parts, reducing maintenance and increasing longevity. Easy installation options include wall mounting or beam attachment.
Why cows love the Lely Luna cow brush
Most importantly, cows use the Luna several times a day, brushing key areas like head, back and tail base, exactly where they naturally itch the most and cannot reach themselves. Many farmers observe: happier, calmer, more comfortable animals, and ultimately a more peaceful barn.
Sources:
[i] Automated monitoring of brush use in dairy cattle | PLOS One
[ii] Environmental Enrichment for Dairy Cattle: Hair Brushing
Other Farming Insights
Why cows love to brush
For dairy cows, grooming is far more than a luxury, it is an essential behaviour linked to comfort, welfare and emotional balance. Many farmers are surprised to learn how strongly cows are motivated to scratch and brush themselves. In fact, controlled experiments have shown that cows will work just as hard to access a mechanical brush as they do to access fresh feed, underlining how important grooming is to them as a natural need.
Cows experience itchiness, loose hair, parasites, dust, sweat build‑up and general irritation on different parts of the body throughout the day. Their instinct is to rub against trees, posts or rough surfaces. However, in modern barns these natural scratching objects are often unavailable. This makes a mechanical cow brush a powerful enrichment tool, one that allows cows to express natural grooming behaviour that would otherwise be restricted.
