Untrained cattle do not defecate or urinate in defined locations. The toilet training of cattle would allow urine and faeces to be separated and stored, reducing climate-damaging emissions and improving animal health. In a proof-of-concept study, we evaluated a novel protocol for toilet training in cattle. Five heifer calves (and yoked controls) were trained in the voluntary (operant) behaviours of a toileting chain. Then, reflexive urinating responses were incorporated into the chain, with toileting signalled by a tactile (vibratory) stimulus. On 95% of occasions, the calves inhibited/interrupted urination when receiving the stimulus, and on 65% of these occasions, reinitiated urination in the latrine. Furthermore, during 63% of urinations in the latrine, the calves oriented to the reward location before any food was delivered, providing additional evidence that calves can be successfully toilet trained with food rewards. Yoked controls failed to learn most of the operant elements and all the reflexive responses of toilet training. The results show that reflexive behaviours can be incorporated into voluntary toileting sequences with cattle and extend the range of species that can be toilet trained. Future refinement of the protocol to allow training under practical farm conditions offers the potential to mitigate climate damage and improve animal health.

中文翻译：

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牛如何上厕所训练？将自反行为纳入行为链

未经训练的牛不会在限定的位置排便或排尿。对牛进行的上厕所训练将使尿液和粪便得以分离和存储，从而减少破坏气候的排放物并改善动物健康。在概念验证研究中，我们评估了用于牛上厕所训练的新协议。对五个小母牛犊牛（和带轭的对照）进行了有关厕所链自愿（操作）行为的培训。然后，反射性排尿反应被纳入链中，并通过触觉（振动）刺激信号发出厕所信号。在95％的情况下，小牛在受到刺激时会抑制/中断排尿，在这些情况中的65％，在厕所中会重新开始排尿。此外，在厕所中63％的排尿过程中，小牛在送出食物之前就朝向奖励位置，提供了额外的证据，证明犊牛可以成功地通过食物奖励进行厕所训练。轭铁控件无法学习大多数操作元素以及上厕所训练的所有反身反应。结果表明，可以将反身行为纳入牛的自愿性上厕所序列中，并扩展了可以进行上厕所训练的物种范围。该协议的进一步完善，可以在实际的农场条件下进行培训，从而有可能减轻气候损害并改善动物健康。结果表明，可以将反身行为纳入牛的自愿性上厕所序列中，并扩展了可以进行上厕所训练的物种范围。该协议的进一步完善，可以在实际的农场条件下进行培训，从而有可能减轻气候损害并改善动物健康。结果表明，可以将反身行为纳入牛的自愿性上厕所序列中，并扩展了可以进行上厕所训练的物种范围。该协议的进一步完善，可以在实际的农场条件下进行培训，从而有可能减轻气候损害并改善动物健康。