A professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture...
A professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture says he has developed summer jackets with matching hats to shield cows from the sun, insects and diseases--allowing them to produce more milk.
The outfit consists of three straw pieces that cover the head, back and abdomen, Mosaku Sakurai said.
He said he developed the jackets after observing cows for more than eight years. Sakurai, an agriculture professor, said cows lose their appetites and produce less milk when they are exposed to the sun during summer.
The back of a black cow can reach 140 degrees if it is outside for about 20 minutes in summer, he said.
By wearing the jacket, a cow can spend more time eating grass and can produce more milk, he said. The jacket is not yet being produced commercially.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
