Self-grooming behaviour has seen to be affected during experienced stress and discomfort among various mammals, including the domestic cow. Recording brush use could be a good addition to existing parameters used when investigating welfare in dairy cow stalls. 

Sudden changes in an individual’s brush use could indicate stress or discomfort. Although, observation of mere frequencies of brush use may not be enough wherefore effects of stress and discomfort was investigated in other parameters of brushing behaviour in present study.

The aim of present study was to see how stress and discomfort could affect

• Duration and number of brush bout
• Brushing intensity
• The proportion of brushed body regions