Painting Cows To Look Like Zebras Has A Surprising Benefit

Scientists in Japan have discovered a clever way to reduce the need for using pesticides on livestock ― and the evidence supporting it is pretty black and white.
A study published in the journal PLoS One found that painting zebra-like stripes on cows significantly reduced attacks by biting flies, providing a means of defending livestock against flies without pesticides.
The study’s inspiration came from past experiments that suggested the striped coats of zebras ― and black and white surfaces in general ― attracted fewer flies than the solid black color of the Japanese bovines that were studied.
Flies are less likely to land on black and white surfaces due to the polarization of light, which impairs their perception, according to the study. Researchers found that the zebra-painted cattle were bitten nearly 50% less than solid-black animals.


Fly bites are more than an annoyance. The insects interfere with cattle grazing and feeding, increase fly-repelling behaviors like foot stamping and head throwing, and cause cattle to bunch together, which increases heat stress and risk of injury, researchers said. Fly bites are estimated to cost the livestock industry billions every year.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/study...110408325.html

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So that's why no my fruit stripe gum comes fly-free!

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Originally Posted by Swordsmyth

Researchers found that the zebra-painted cattle were bitten nearly 50% less than solid-black animals.

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Originally Posted by shakey1

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Maybe the 50% reduction in bites is because 50% of the cow is painted and if they painted the other 50% of the cow, they would be bitten nearly 100% less than solid-black animals.

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Originally Posted by Dr.3D

Maybe the 50% reduction in bites is because 50% of the cow is painted and if they painted the other 50% of the cow, they would be bitten nearly 100% less than solid-black animals.

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I think solid white cows get bitten too.

Maybe they should try checks instead of stripes.

Japan could make flies illegal.

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Originally Posted by Swordsmyth

I think solid white cows get bitten too.

Maybe they should try checks instead of stripes.

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Myabe flies don't like to bite through the paint.

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Originally Posted by Dr.3D

Myabe flies don't like to bite through the paint.

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I doubt the paint provides a solid barrier but it could be.

The article says the patterns confuse the flies.

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Originally Posted by Swordsmyth

I doubt the paint provides a solid barrier but it could be.

The article says the patterns confuse the flies.

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Maybe it makes the hairs stick together and the flies can't get to the skin as easily.

I wonder if they tried painting black stripes on a black cow to see if there was any difference.

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Originally Posted by Dr.3D

Maybe it makes the hairs stick together and the flies can't get to the skin as easily.

I wonder if they tried painting black stripes on a black cow to see if there was any difference.

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You would need to conduct some experiments to be sure.
But I wonder how healthy it would be to cover the entire surface of the cow with paint all the time.

Works to repel sharks as well.

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Originally Posted by Dr.3D

Myabe flies don't like to bite through the paint.

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ding ding ding. Also, the paint could have some repellent effects on its own. They should have had a control to exclude those other possible factors

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Originally Posted by juleswin

ding ding ding. Also, the paint could have some repellent effects on its own. They should have had a control to exclude those other possible factors

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I would hope they painted the 'black' cows with black paint to control for this. With the same stripes ideally. That's normally how you would control something like this.

The same scientists also discovered that it was somewhat cheaper and
just as effective to cut up some of Michelle Obama's old canvas muumuus
and fashion them into Cow apparel.
One big cost savings feature was that if they cut them up just so, they
could get one to fit two cows.

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Originally Posted by luctor-et-emergo

I would hope they painted the 'black' cows with black paint to control for this. With the same stripes ideally. That's normally how you would control something like this.

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That needs to be done. Also they can control for different kinds of paint, water vs oil based paints etc etc. I think the repellent is the paint and not the pattern of the painting. I have seen Zebras on the savanna and those guys are always busy beating the flies off their hides.

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Originally Posted by juleswin

That needs to be done. Also they can control for different kinds of paint, water vs oil based paints etc etc. I think the repellent is the paint and not the pattern of the painting. I have seen Zebras on the savanna and those guys are always busy beating the flies off their hides.

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It makes more sense with sharks as well I think as it mimics sea-snakes or otherwise looks far from their normal food. But who knows. There are stranger things in this world.

I like my cows to look like cows, not zebras.

[QUOTE=Anti Globalist;6871429]I like my cows to look like cows, not zebras.[/Q We could get a zebu and paint it. They also come in miniature .