Crossword Genius

Cow's carer made out he is protection for the crop (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scarecrow

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'he is protection for the crop' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'cow's carer made' is the wordplay.
'made' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cows'+'carer'='cowscarer'
'cowscarer' is an anagram of 'SCARECROW'.

'out' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for scarecrow that I've seen before include "Untidy person" , "Figure to deter birds" , "Farm field figure" , "one deters" , "Effigy in a field" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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