Getting a good scratch is just as worthy as good food for cows, says study
VANCOUVER — Everyone knows the satisfaction of having an itch scratched and researchers at the University of British Columbia say cows appear to feel the same way.
A study from the animal welfare program at the school found dairy cows want to use a scratching brush just as much as they want to access fresh feed.
The program’s Prof. Marina von Keyserlingk, one of six co-authors of the report, said in nature, cows are outside and use trees and other abrasive surfaces to scratch themselves. But when they’re kept in a barn, scratching is almost impossible.
A scratching brush looks similar to a small bristled roller in a car wash. When the animal steps into or under the brush, it automatically begins rolling.