## Stripes Protect Japanese Black Cattle from Insects
A three-year experiment in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, has shown that white stripes created with bleach offer protection to Japanese Black cattle from blood-feeding insects. This finding has significant implications for farmers, as it can improve the well-being and productivity of their cattle.
Grazing cattle offer several benefits to farmers. They consume grass, reducing the need for feed and labor costs. Additionally, they utilize idle farmland, maximizing land usage.
However, cattle grazing outdoors are vulnerable to blood-feeding insects like gadflies and cattle flies. These insects cause pain and itchiness, leading to stress and decreased reproductive capacity. Additionally, bites from disease-carrying insects can make cattle sick.
A previous study in Aichi Prefecture demonstrated the effectiveness of stripes in deterring flies from black-colored cattle. Building on this research, a team from the Yamagata prefectural government conducted experiments from 2021 to 2023 to confirm the effectiveness of stripes on Japanese Black cattle in their region.
Researchers created 3-4 cm wide white stripes on the cattle's coats using bleach or white spray. The results were immediate and significant.
Cattle without stripes exhibited insect-avoidance behaviors like tail wagging, head shaking, and hoof raising 16 times per minute. In contrast, striped cattle of the same breed displayed these behaviors only 5 times per minute, a 70% reduction.
The stripes, whether created with bleach or white spray, effectively protected the cattle from gadflies and cattle flies. This reduction in insect harassment allows the cattle to relax, rest, and grow healthy.
Farmers who participated in the study were initially skeptical but were impressed by the results. They observed that striped cattle wagged their tails less frequently than their unstriped counterparts, indicating reduced insect bother. Additionally, there were no reports of striped cattle being ostracized by other cattle.
The research findings and farmer reactions have been published in agricultural leaflets to inform and encourage wider adoption of this simple yet effective method for protecting cattle from insects.