Weird side of Japan : why are some cows disguised as zebras?

Japanese researchers have found a particularly effective technique for protecting cows from horsefly and insect bites. They disguise them as zebras to reduce their stress and avoid diseases transmitted by insect bites.

Summary

 - In Japan, breeders have adopted an innovative technique by painting white stripes on their cows to protect them from insects.

 - This method, inspired by zebras, has been successfully tested since 2019, significantly reducing insect bites on cattle.

 - Cows decorated in this way, nicknamed "shimaushi", show a 70% reduction in movements intended to chase away insects, improving their well-being.

Most insect bites are harmless, but they are still disturbing. Animals that live outside, such as cows, are easy targets for horseflies and other insects when temperatures rise after winter.

All these insects are a real scourge for breeders. They must redouble their imagination to protect their animals as best they can in order to ensure their comfort of life. In Japan, breeders had the funny idea of disguising their cows as zebras.

White paint to fight insect bites?

The idea of disguising cows as zebras may seem far-fetched, but it has already proven itself on several farms across the country. So much so that the Yamagata prefecture in northeastern Japan is promoting this technique.

As you might expect, the cows are disguised as zebras using white stripes. Japanese beef like wagyu has an entirely black coat. The white stripes drawn on their skin are therefore really reminiscent of those of a zebra, even if we do not know if zebras are white animals with black stripes or the opposite (recently, it was discovered that zebras are black with white stripes. Basically, at the embryo stage, the skin of this equine is black.).

It is in any case certain that these Japanese cows are black-skinned animals which are disguised with white stripes. This disguise significantly reduces the number of insect and horsefly bites. We might as well tell you that even the cows are also relieved in addition to the breeders.

Researchers came up with the idea for these zebra stripes in 2019

“When I was first told about it, I thought it was a lie. I applied strips at regular intervals to the bodies of my cows to add white stripes using a spray. It was difficult to keep from laughing. Thanks to this method, my cows no longer attract insects at all. I am very surprised myself,” says Hirohisa Endo who participated in this experiment.

This technique is not new. It was created in 2019 by scientists at the Aichi Prefectural Agricultural Research Center which is located along the Pacific coast in central Japan. The results of this research were particularly promising.

Zebra cows are nicknamed “shimaushi” in Japan

Between 2021 and 2023, researchers and cattle breeders in Yamagata Prefecture monitored and recorded the head and tail movements made by cows. These movements allow them to hunt insects.

Cattle on which white stripes were painted reduced the number of head and tail movements by 70%. The breeders couldn't believe their eyes, but the results were indeed there.

Why is it so important to stripe cows for Japanese breeders? In addition to diseases transmitted by insects, bites also stress cows. The latter are distressed by horseflies and other insects which harass them all day long.

Therefore, it can also disrupt their reproductive system, hence the importance of keeping insects away. Zebra cows are nicknamed “shimaushi” (meaning cows with stripes) in Japan.

Breeders confirm that they are in good health. They are not bothered by their peers because of their different appearance from others.