Researchers trained calves to urinate in a specific area using rewards, revealing their surprising intelligence.
Calf training experiment published in 2021
In September 2021, researchers from the German Institute for Animal Production Science (FBN) published a study in Current Biology about training calves to urinate in a specific area. Training method called MooLoo
The method, called "MooLoo," used progressive learning and rewards to teach calves to urinate in a designated spot. The calves were placed in a small enclosure with synthetic grass to encourage the behavior. Rewards and corrections used
When calves successfully urinated in the correct location, they received a reward such as electrolytes or crushed barley. If they had an accident, a light water jet was used to discourage the behavior. Unpleasant sounds had no effect
Unlike unpleasant sounds played through a headset, which did not influence the calves' behavior, the rewards and corrections proved effective. The study found that 11 out of 16 calves learned the task within ten days. Researchers highlight calf intelligence
According to co-author Jan Langbein, the study shows that calves are much smarter than commonly believed. Their ability to learn this skill challenges general assumptions about their cognitive abilities.
