Great discovery by Japanese scientists! The Zebra Bull is effective against fly attacks

Great discovery by Japanese scientists! The Zebra Bull is effective against fly attacks

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One researcher found that applying 4-centimeter to 5-centimeter stripes on six pregnant Japanese black cows reduced fly bite rates to 50 percent.

Flies are a sign of warmer weather. They spread disease by falling on food, also enter our food or drink, and spread bacteria when consumed. However, if they are attracted to food, why do they have more contact with us?

According to a new study published by Japanese scientists on the website Plos One, this may have something to do with what we wear. When a cow is coated with zebra-like stripes, the attack of flies is "greatly reduced". Scientists believe that this camouflage confuses the movement detection of flies and stops the pests.

The researchers used "commercial water-based white paint" that was easily faded to draw white stripes of 4 to 5 centimeters on six pregnant Japanese black bulls. Cattle coated with zebra stripes were then observed. Two of the cows are painted with white stripes, two with black stripes and the other two unpainted for contrast. This process is then repeated, so that three trials were performed on each cow over a period of 9 days, with remarkable results.

The researchers said only 55 flies were observed on "zebra cows," while 111 were observed on cows coated with black stripes. Eventually, 128 flies were observed on unpainted cattle. Previous research has also found that flies are less likely to attach to horses wearing striped blankets and other striped coats.

Now researchers say this will require more work. Connections must be confirmed and less labor-intensive methods developed to ensure that cattle maintain the same pattern as zebras. If successful, it would alleviate one of the most persistent pest problems facing cattle and create a world-first initiative.