Maintaining healthy, full, and properly trained hair is a cornerstone of livestock show preparation. Among the most trusted tools for daily care is the Sullivan’s Staggered Roto Brush, designed to stimulate hair growth, remove dirt, and promote natural hair volume. Whether you’re working hair on cattle, goats, or hogs, understanding how to properly use a roto brush can significantly elevate the quality and appearance of your animals’ hair. During this “Tips from Stock Show University®” article, Tess Mittag, Stock Show University® Manager, shares some general Techniques for using a Sullivan’s Roto Brush.
Choose the Right Roto Brush — Here at Sullivan Supply, we offer two different types of roto brushes. The Staggered Roto Brush (green bristles) is the ultimate daily care roto brush, as the Fluffer Roto Brush (red and black bristles) is the ultimate show day roto brush — recommended being used before fitting.
Select the Right Drill — When selecting a drill to use, we recommend using a cordless drill verses a corded drill, as it easier to use for younger exhibitors and to maneuver around the animal properly.
Pick the Right Speed of the Drill — Using a drill on medium speed is ideal. High speeds can irritate sensitive hides or cause hair breakage. Slow, intentional passes work far better than rushing the job.
Start with Ease – When starting to use a roto brush on an animal, start out slowly and with ease. The load sound of the drill can new be to the animal, along with the feel against their skin. This will be an easy process once the animal is used to the roto brush, so it is very important that your animal has a positive experience with the roto brush the very first time.
Maintain Steady Pressure — Apply light to moderate pressure. Too much can stress the animal or damage the hair follicle, while too little won’t stimulate the hide effectively.
Keep the Brush Moving — Never hold the brush in one spot while spinning; this can create heat or irritation. Smooth, even motions across the body keep the animal comfortable and the hair healthy.
Brush in the Correct Direction — When roto brushing cattle and hogs, you will want to work the hair forward and upward, following the natural angle of the hair to promote volume. When working hair on does, you will want to roto the hair backwards, training the hair to lay properly. When roto brushing goats, you want to brush the hair forward at first and then use the brush to lay the body hair naturally on the goat. Be sure that you change the direction of the drill when you maneuver around the animal, so the hair is always going up and forward.
Protect the Tail — When roto brushing cattle, protect the tail with a Sullivan’s Tail bag or have someone hold the tail. This will ensure that you do not get the tail caught within the roto brush.
Want to read more Stock Show University® articles? Visit https://www.sullivansupply.com/category/stock-show-university/ and click on the Education tab!
