New study: pot-trained cows may be key to lower emissions

A new study from Germany is highlighting the cognitive ability of cows by training them to use bathroom stalls. The study explains the possible impact that potty trained cows can have on emissions, especially gases such as ammonia, one of the most concentrated gases in cow urine.

In this study, calves learned to urinate in a closed sod stall. This system collects, recycles and processes cow excrement. The ultimate goal of this collection is to use the excrement to create fertilizer and reduce emissions.

Cow emissions contribute to many of the high emissions into our atmosphere and make livestock one of the most pollutants in today’s climate change conversation. Ammonia, a key ingredient in cow urine, has been linked to poor human health. If 80% of cow urine were collected and processed, this could potentially cut ammonia emissions in half.

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Possible effects of potty training in cattle will include cleaner air, lower emissions, and happier cows. Harnessing the cognitive abilities of cows could revolutionize livestock and animal husbandry.

During the study, the cows were trained by MooLoo. This learning system combined a reverse chain and a reward-based learning procedure. Backtracking is a type of animal training that first teaches the animal the last step in a sequence.

As part of the MooLoo Training program, trainers first taught cattle to urinate in a stall and rewarded them with a treat. Then, when they learned that a treat was associated with a counter, they were taught to associate the hallway leading to the counter with another treat. Trainers also used water spray to dissuade the cattle from urinating when not in the stall.

Using this method, the researchers were able to train 11-16 cows to write in a stall within 10 days of starting MooLoo training.

Of course, the potential climate impact of this will require extensive MooLoo training. Researchers believe that most cows have the ability to learn to control their urinary reflex or bladder. However, the problem is in the process.

To make the training process effective for both cattle and livestock breeders, stalls must be automated. This means having an automated reward system and an automatic water spray system throughout the entire process. To create a real environmental impact, MooLoo training needs large-scale automation.

This research and potential implementation of MooLoo Training could help meet pressing environmental needs and improve cow wellbeing and happiness.