Why do cows scratch furniture?

Natural grooming behaviour explained

  • Cow brush
2026May 49:10 AMLast updated: Sep 29, 2026

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 furniture 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 scratch against trees, posts, rough surfaces or other types of furniture. 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.

Natural grooming

Which body areas do cows prefer to scratch, and how do they use cow brushes?

High‑quality behavioural research shows that cows mostly scratched areas they cannot easily reach themselves:

  • Head
  • Neck
  • Back
  • Tail base

They brush these areas with remarkable enthusiasm. When given the opportunity, cows spend around 7 minutes per day brushing themselves on a mechanical brush[i].

Interestingly, researchers have also found that cows brush with determination: pushing their full bodyweight against the brush to achieve a firm, satisfying scratch, much harder than gentle grooming by a human hand. This means that a barn brush must be sturdy, resilient and designed for heavy pressure.

Why brushing matters for welfare

Grooming improves well-being, reduces impatience, and supports a healthy skin condition. Brushing also stimulates blood circulation, reduces itchy skin and helps cows relax. Reduced stress is strongly linked to better immunity and herd health, and studies show a clear connection between enriched environments and improved physical outcomes such as lower mastitis levels and increased milk production[i].

Which body areas do cows prefer to scratch, and how do they use cow brushes?

From natural behaviour to smart barn equipment

Allowing cows to groom is therefore not a luxury, it is essential for healthy and content animals. But to provide this reliably indoors, farmers need a robust brush that mimics natural scratching surfaces while ensuring safety and hygiene.
This brings us to the Lely Luna: a fully electric cow brush designed specifically to support natural grooming behaviour, allow cows to scratch firmly and safely, and deliver comfort where cows need it most. 

Source: 

[i] Environmental Enrichment for Dairy Cattle: Hair Brushing

Disclaimer: Not all results have been verified by Lely. Actual results may vary, and no rights can be derived from the information in this article.

Explore Lely Luna

Other Farming Insights

Manure9/25/2026

Why cleaner barn floors matter for hoof health

Changes in cow mobility can start before visible lameness. A cow may walk more carefully, spend more time lying down or visit the feed fence less often, while still appearing to perform normally.

A barn with cows laying in their boxes. A Discovery Collector C2 is cleaning a solid barn floor. There are cows in the back being milked by a Lely Astronaut milking robot.
Manure9/9/2026

Why manure management can take more time than you think

Manure management is often spread across the day, making it easy to underestimate how much time repetitive cleaning routines really take.

Three people walking through a dairy barn beside cows feeding at a barrier, with warm sunlight streaming in from the side.
Manure9/9/2026

How manure management supports a flexible barn

Dairy farms change over time, and the barn often changes with them. Expansion, renovation and new opportunities can all affect how manure needs to be managed across the barn.

Lely Discovery C1 manure robot cleaning the floor of a dairy barn beside resting and standing cows.
Manure9/9/2026

Hidden manure costs and dairy farm efficiency

Manure management costs go beyond fuel, repairs and labour. Time spent monitoring equipment and unexpected downtime can also affect daily farm efficiency.

Lely Discovery manure robot cleaning the floor of a dairy barn among Holstein cows.
Feeding7/15/2026

From calf to cow: the importance of consistent feeding

The foundations of a good dairy cow are not laid at the moment she first enters the milking robot. This happens often much earlier. During a calf’s first weeks of life, the groundwork is laid for how she will develop, how efficiently she will utilise feed later on, and how resiliently she will cope with the challenges of life as a dairy cow. Those who understand and support this journey from calf to cow are building a future-proof herd. At Lely, we therefore do not look at stand-alone solutions, but at the cow’s entire lifespan – from calf to adult milk production in the barn. With solutions such as the Lely Calm calf feeder and the Lely Vector automatic feeding system, we support dairy farmers at every stage. The data and insights generated by these solutions are brought together in Lely Horizon. This creates one connected narrative, one clear overview and one partner to build on. 

Udder health6/8/2026

What are the natural defence mechanisms at udder level

Udder health plays a crucial role in milk production, cow welfare and the daily satisfaction of dairy farmers. A healthy udder supports consistent milk yield, high milk quality and reduces the risk of mastitis. One of the most common and costly challenges in dairy farming worldwide.

In almost every case, mastitis develops when bacteria manage to enter the udder through the teat opening. The cow is not defenseless, however. The teat skin, teat canal and teat sphincter together form a highly effective natural defence system. Understanding how these mechanisms work and how farm management and milking practices can support them, is key to improving udder health on dairy farms.