Apparatus for cleaning a teat of a dairy animal

The present invention provides an apparatus for automatically cleaning a teat of an animal, such as a dairy cow. The apparatus generally includes a first housing having a longitudinal axis and an interior wall defining a teat cleaning compartment, a motor (or other powering device)operatively coupled to the first housing for imparting rotary motion thereto about its longitudinal axis, and a first set of bristles engaged with the interior wall and extending radially inward therefrom, wherein the rotary motion imparted to the first housing is translated to the first set of bristles. The apparatus further includes a second housing concentrically positioned around the first housing that includes a cleaning fluid inlet nozzle positioned in fluid communication with a cleaning fluid conduit, and a cleaning fluid discharge nozzle. A source of cleaning fluid is operatively connected to the cleaning fluid inlet nozzle, and a pressure source is operatively connected to the cleaning fluid discharge nozzle in order to draw the fluid out of the apparatus.