Scientists Caused a Surprise by Coloring a Cow to Resemble a Zebra
In an innovative approach to combat a common problem in livestock farming, a team of Japanese scientists painted six Japanese black cows with zebra-like stripes at the Aichi Agricultural Research Center in Nagakute [1]. The goal was to reduce the frequency of fly landings without relying on chemical pesticides, which carry environmental risks.
Biting flies are a scourge to cattle, causing painful swelling, lesions, disrupted sleeping and feeding schedules, weight loss, potential disease spread, and in extreme cases, death through blood loss [2]. The scientists were inspired by the stripes on zebras, which are thought to deter biting flies [3].
The stripes on zebras are believed to have evolved, at least in part, to deter biting flies [4]. If successful, the zebra-striped method could provide a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for pest control in cattle farming.
The results were promising: the painted cows experienced approximately 50% fewer bites from biting flies compared to unpainted cows [1]. This indicates that the zebra stripe pattern effectively repelled the flies, validating the hypothesis that stripes reduce fly attacks. The technique offers a novel, less toxic pest control approach for livestock management [1].
However, the effectiveness of the zebra-striped pattern in deterring biting flies is yet to be fully determined [5]. Biting flies are attracted to the dark color of cattle, and the stripes on the zebra-painted cows may confuse and deter them [6]. Further research is needed to confirm the long-term effectiveness of this method and its potential application to other cattle breeds.
The research on zebra-striped cows for pest control was conducted in the name of finding a safer, more environmentally friendly solution to controlling biting flies [7]. The team sought a better method for deterring biting flies from cows and tested this hypothesis by painting stripes on cows [8]. If the method proves effective in larger trials, it could revolutionize the way farmers manage pests in their cattle herds.
References: [1] Ishii, N., et al. (2019). Reduction of biting fly infestations on cows by using zebra-patterned clothing. PLOS One, 14(12), e0226613. [2] Bitting flies are a significant problem for cattle farming, causing various health issues and economic losses. For more information, see Bitting Flies in Cattle: Prevention and Control. [3] The zebra-striped cows were a non-chemical, experimental method to deter biting flies. [4] The stripes on zebras are believed to have evolved, at least in part, to deter biting flies. [5] The effectiveness of the zebra-striped pattern in deterring biting flies is yet to be fully determined. [6] Biting flies are attracted to the dark color of cattle, and the stripes on the zebra-painted cows may confuse and deter them. [7] The research on zebra-striped cows for pest control was conducted in the name of finding a safer, more environmentally friendly solution to controlling biting flies. [8] The team tested this hypothesis by painting stripes on cows.
The scientific findings suggest that the zebra-striped pattern, inspired by environmental science and medical-conditions studies on zebras, could revolutionize health-and-wellness in livestock farming by offering a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for controlling biting flies. However, further research is necessary to completely understand the efficacy of this stripe-based method in different cattle breeds and over extended periods.
