Scratching is a natural need for cattle to get rid of parasites and scabs. If a cow can't find suitable scratching equipment, she'll use fences and wall edges, risking damage and injury. To ensure the well-being of your animals, you need to think about providing them with safe scratching equipment. The rotary brush is already well known.
In addition, Bioret, a specialist in livestock products, has developed Grat'O Gratte, a vertical or horizontal rubber scraping station that can be mounted on stall walls. Easy to install, the stations can be placed in multiple locations. Cows can rub against them without the risk of injuring themselves against the concrete. Made of molded rubber parts with 32 mm studs, Grat'O Gratte scratching stations are simple and effective in design. They require neither energy nor maintenance. The vertical station consists of a 500 mm smooth bottom section and a 1,000 mm top section with studs. The horizontal station, on the other hand, is entirely covered with studs.
A simple, effective solution
Two years ago, David Forget, a dairy farmer in Abbaretz (44), installed Grat'O Gratte in his barn. It's a good complement to rotary brushes," says this dairy farmer. With a brush, the animal scratches its back, but with the Grat'O Gratte, it's more likely to scratch its head. It multiplies the places where the cows find to rub themselves, so I think it avoids the stress of competition. Any cow that needs to scratch can find a place to do it in peace. Plus, it protects the walls.
David Forget has installed 5 stations for 120 cows. " With the hairs at the foot of the stations, I have proof that they are useful! Their effectiveness and ease of installation convinced the farmer to install them in the calf and heifer pens too. Hugo Lucas, a young breeder in Côtes d'Armor, confirms : " The fact that my animals can scratch themselves in complete safety contributes to their well-being. In my new building, I've installed Grat'O Gratte on the bare corners to complement the brushes. There are always cows around.
