News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A German sanctuary for dairy cows has installed a device called a Happy Cow brush to allow the animals to scratch themselves in a way they find particularly enjoyable.

As you can see in the video of "Paul" using the device, it does indeed seem to make cows happy.

Paul was rescued at the age of two months from a slaughterhouse in Bavaria and now lives in the Hof Butenland retirement home in northern Germany.

The brush - a large rotating cylinder covered in bristles - looks like it wouldn't be out of place in a car wash, but is designed to provide an experience similar to the cow’s natural behaviour to rub against trees.

The brush automatically starts when a cow gives it a slight nudge - and then rotates for around a minute. According to the manufacturer, cows use the machine an average of six times per day.

The centre takes in dozens of animals each year and gives them a home for life. It currently has more than 40 cows, as well as horses, pigs, dogs, and chickens.

Lots of the cows come from dairies - the cows tend to get sent to slaughter after around 5 years when they no longer produce enough milk to be profitable.

Their male offspring - bred to ensure the cows continue to produce milk - often get sent to slaughter as well.

Hof Butenland tries to rescue as many of them as it can.