NEWS
Research to toilet train cows aims for positive environmental impact
University of Auckland-affiliated researchers have successfully demonstrated that cows can be toilet trained . It ’ s no joke . Lindsay Matthews and Douglas Elliffe ’ s research with German colleagues could help reduce water contamination and greenhouse gas emissions .
UniServices
Cow urine is high in nitrogen . As it breaks down in the soil , it results in two problematic substances – nitrate and nitrous oxide . Nitrate from urine patches leaches into lakes , rivers and aquifers , where it pollutes water and contributes to the excessive growth of weeds and algae . Nitrous oxide , a long-lived greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide , accounts for 12 percent of New Zealand ’ s greenhouse gas emissions – and much of it comes from the agricultural sector .
If cows could be trained to urinate in a “ toilet ” at least some of the time , nitrogen could be captured and dealt with before it pollutes water or turns into nitrous oxide gas . Matthews and Elliffe ’ s research detailing how has been published in the prestigious journal
Current Biology and is profiled in
Science .
“ We ’ ve shown proof of concept that we can train cows and train them easily ,” said Elliffe , a University of Auckland professor of psychology . “ Cattle urine is a major cause of our nitrogen problem . Any reduction in that would make a difference .”
“ People ’ s reaction is , ‘ crazy scientists ,’ but actually , the building blocks are there ,” said Matthews , a University of Auckland honorary academic and director of an independent research company . “ Cows have bigger urinations when they wake up in the morning , which demonstrates they have the ability to withhold urination . There ’ s nothing in their neurophysiology that radically differentiates them from animals , such as horses , monkeys and cats , that show latrine behaviour .”
Matthews has been around cows for a
Figure 1 : Lindsay Matthews
long time – he grew up on a dairy farm and did his PhD research on learning and preference in cows . In 2007 , during a radio interview about the environmental impact of cattle excretion , the host suggested Matthews should toilet train them . It was a joke – but it got Matthews thinking .
In 2015 , Matthews was working with Professor Lars Schrader at the
Federal Research Institute for Animal Health in Germany when Schrader suggested toilet training to deal with ammonia emissions , which result from contact between faeces and urine . Previous international attempts to toilet train cows had seen little success , but Matthews thought that with his deep expertise , he might be able to do better . He brought in Elliffe , who has complementary skills in behavioural analysis , to help .
With their German colleagues , Mat-
Figure 2 : Lindsay Matthews
15 Grassroots Vol 21 No 3 November 2021