Elliffe’s group selected 16 calves to take part in their study. To encourage the cows to pee in a rectangular pen designated as a bovine latrine, or shared toilet, the team of researchers tried a strategy that human parents use to potty-train toddlers: They offered rewards! Elliffe explains that a behavior, like using a toilet, is likely to be repeated if it’s followed by a reinforcer.
First, each cow was led into the latrine. After urinating, the cows were rewarded with a sweet molasses-based treat from a window in the wall of the pen. After this process was repeated 10 to 30 times, the calves would turn to the window immediately after urinating. They’d learned to associate peeing in the latrine with receiving a treat.
If cows urinated outside the latrine, they were sprinkled with cold water, which they found unpleasant, and didn’t get a snack. After several accidents, the cows realized they would be rewarded only if they peed inside the toilet. Eventually, the cows held their pee until they reached the latrine to get their treat. It took 15 days to potty train the cows—as long as it might take to train a human child.