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Potty trained cows combating climate change

Potty trained cows combating climate change

Scientists have potty-trained cows to try to tackle climate change.

Normally the animal's waste combines with soil microbes to produce greenhouse gases.

But now cows in Germany have been taught to urinate in specific places, to allow it to be collected and treated to reduce pollution.

Scientists are calling it the 'MooLoo' method and taught it to the calves using a rewards and mild punishment technique.

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When they urinated in the designated area, they were rewarded with some sweet barley but when they didn't, they were faced with a short blast of water from above.

It took about 15 training sessions for 11 calves to become fully toilet trained.

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