[Applause] so hello my name is dr. Alison Vaughn
so hello my name is dr. Alison Vaughn
so hello my name is dr. Alison Vaughn and here today I’m going to talk to you
and here today I’m going to talk to you
and here today I’m going to talk to you about technology about animal learning
about technology about animal learning
about technology about animal learning and about animal welfare but more
and about animal welfare but more
and about animal welfare but more specifically I’m here to talk to you
specifically I’m here to talk to you
specifically I’m here to talk to you about potty training cows now when
about potty training cows now when
about potty training cows now when people hear about my research they
people hear about my research they
people hear about my research they normally have a few questions questions
normally have a few questions questions
normally have a few questions questions like why and how and are you crazy but
like why and how and are you crazy but
like why and how and are you crazy but this idea is not as crazy as it first
this idea is not as crazy as it first
this idea is not as crazy as it first sounds in fact I hope to prove to you
sounds in fact I hope to prove to you
sounds in fact I hope to prove to you today the potty training cows has the
today the potty training cows has the
today the potty training cows has the power to revolutionize the way we have
power to revolutionize the way we have
power to revolutionize the way we have dairy cattle and serve as a template for
dairy cattle and serve as a template for
dairy cattle and serve as a template for how we can use technology to meet other
how we can use technology to meet other
how we can use technology to meet other challenges to production animal welfare
challenges to production animal welfare
challenges to production animal welfare now some of you in the audience may have
now some of you in the audience may have
now some of you in the audience may have picked up that by my accent I’m not from
picked up that by my accent I’m not from
picked up that by my accent I’m not from Canada I was born on a small island just
Canada I was born on a small island just
Canada I was born on a small island just off the northwest coast of Scotland and
off the northwest coast of Scotland and
off the northwest coast of Scotland and it’s a very rugged it’s a very rural
it’s a very rugged it’s a very rural
it’s a very rugged it’s a very rural environment and if you’d asked me to
environment and if you’d asked me to
environment and if you’d asked me to picture a cow well this is what pops
picture a cow well this is what pops
picture a cow well this is what pops into my head I had a very romantic year
into my head I had a very romantic year
into my head I had a very romantic year of farming and machinery did not feature
of farming and machinery did not feature
of farming and machinery did not feature heavily in that in fact I confess I was
heavily in that in fact I confess I was
heavily in that in fact I confess I was pretty suspicious of technology when it
pretty suspicious of technology when it
pretty suspicious of technology when it came to farm animals so six years ago
came to farm animals so six years ago
came to farm animals so six years ago when I moved to Canada to study dairy
when I moved to Canada to study dairy
when I moved to Canada to study dairy cattle welfare and I was faced with this
cattle welfare and I was faced with this
cattle welfare and I was faced with this it was jarring
it was jarring
it was jarring I’ve been studying animal welfare and
I’ve been studying animal welfare and
I’ve been studying animal welfare and behavior for about 12 years now and this
behavior for about 12 years now and this
behavior for about 12 years now and this contrast and my reaction to it got me
contrast and my reaction to it got me
contrast and my reaction to it got me thinking about animal welfare how we
thinking about animal welfare how we
thinking about animal welfare how we define it and what it means the animals
define it and what it means the animals
define it and what it means the animals themselves now for most people when we
themselves now for most people when we
themselves now for most people when we think of animal welfare I should say
think of animal welfare I should say
think of animal welfare I should say what is good welfare in the first place
what is good welfare in the first place
what is good welfare in the first place so what is good welfare well the short
so what is good welfare well the short
so what is good welfare well the short answer is it means different things to
answer is it means different things to
answer is it means different things to different people for most of us
different people for most of us
different people for most of us intuitively we think of naturalness we
intuitively we think of naturalness we
intuitively we think of naturalness we want an animal to have as natural a life
want an animal to have as natural a life
want an animal to have as natural a life as possible now what does this mean well
as possible now what does this mean well
as possible now what does this mean well there’s one study on Danish pig
there’s one study on Danish pig
there’s one study on Danish pig production and public’s perceptions and
production and public’s perceptions and
production and public’s perceptions and in that participants from the public
in that participants from the public
in that participants from the public we’re asked to sort pictures of pigs
we’re asked to sort pictures of pigs
we’re asked to sort pictures of pigs into those with good welfare and
into those with good welfare and
into those with good welfare and with poor welfare now to quote one
with poor welfare now to quote one
with poor welfare now to quote one participant being dirty is critical Pig
participant being dirty is critical Pig
participant being dirty is critical Pig should be dirty the reason I put all the
should be dirty the reason I put all the
should be dirty the reason I put all the other pigs in that other pile were that
other pigs in that other pile were that
other pigs in that other pile were that they were just too clean that means it’s
they were just too clean that means it’s
they were just too clean that means it’s pure industrialized production they were
pure industrialized production they were
pure industrialized production they were clean and I don’t like it and that goes
clean and I don’t like it and that goes
clean and I don’t like it and that goes for the one with the curly tail – it was
for the one with the curly tail – it was
for the one with the curly tail – it was nice and curly but too clean should have
nice and curly but too clean should have
nice and curly but too clean should have been dirty now it’s funny because if I
been dirty now it’s funny because if I
been dirty now it’s funny because if I talk to my vet friends and I ask them
talk to my vet friends and I ask them
talk to my vet friends and I ask them what is good welfare they’re likely to
what is good welfare they’re likely to
what is good welfare they’re likely to talk about the health of the animal we
talk about the health of the animal we
talk about the health of the animal we want to see an animal that’s free of
want to see an animal that’s free of
want to see an animal that’s free of injury free of disease and probably
injury free of disease and probably
injury free of disease and probably clean in the field of animal behavior in
clean in the field of animal behavior in
clean in the field of animal behavior in welfare we often focus on the animals
welfare we often focus on the animals
welfare we often focus on the animals subjective experience what does that
subjective experience what does that
subjective experience what does that animal feel what does it want I’m
animal feel what does it want I’m
animal feel what does it want I’m driving around on a sunny day and I see
driving around on a sunny day and I see
driving around on a sunny day and I see cows in a field it looks nice but if we
cows in a field it looks nice but if we
cows in a field it looks nice but if we ask the cow herself what she wants
ask the cow herself what she wants
ask the cow herself what she wants actually unbalanced they’ve often prefer
actually unbalanced they’ve often prefer
actually unbalanced they’ve often prefer to be inside out of the hot Sun in a
to be inside out of the hot Sun in a
to be inside out of the hot Sun in a cool barn with food and water and when
cool barn with food and water and when
cool barn with food and water and when we want to tuck our animals in at night
we want to tuck our animals in at night
we want to tuck our animals in at night while they’d often rather be outside
while they’d often rather be outside
while they’d often rather be outside laying in that cool grass in reality
laying in that cool grass in reality
laying in that cool grass in reality good welfare needs to balance all of
good welfare needs to balance all of
good welfare needs to balance all of these approaches we need to have happy
these approaches we need to have happy
these approaches we need to have happy healthy animals that are free to perform
healthy animals that are free to perform
healthy animals that are free to perform natural behaviors dairy farmers have
natural behaviors dairy farmers have
natural behaviors dairy farmers have embraced technology to meet these needs
embraced technology to meet these needs
embraced technology to meet these needs if you go to most dairy farms in the
if you go to most dairy farms in the
if you go to most dairy farms in the Fraser Valley you’ll often see it looks
Fraser Valley you’ll often see it looks
Fraser Valley you’ll often see it looks like a big mechanical brush like
like a big mechanical brush like
like a big mechanical brush like something you’d find in a car wash if
something you’d find in a car wash if
something you’d find in a car wash if you hang around for a minute or two
you hang around for a minute or two
you hang around for a minute or two you’re likely to see one of the girls go
you’re likely to see one of the girls go
you’re likely to see one of the girls go up hit it to start it turning and give
up hit it to start it turning and give
up hit it to start it turning and give herself a good all-over scratch a
herself a good all-over scratch a
herself a good all-over scratch a massage
massage
massage now scratching is important behavior for
now scratching is important behavior for
now scratching is important behavior for cows it also helps keep them cleaner and
cows it also helps keep them cleaner and
cows it also helps keep them cleaner and reduces parasites and if ever you have
reduces parasites and if ever you have
reduces parasites and if ever you have seen a cow use one of these you don’t
seen a cow use one of these you don’t
seen a cow use one of these you don’t need me to tell you that they really
need me to tell you that they really
need me to tell you that they really love it so we also have automated
love it so we also have automated
love it so we also have automated milking systems so rather than the
milking systems so rather than the
milking systems so rather than the farmer coming taking the cow to be
farmer coming taking the cow to be
farmer coming taking the cow to be milked twice a day they have milking
milked twice a day they have milking
milked twice a day they have milking units within the cows pen she can go
units within the cows pen she can go
units within the cows pen she can go whenever she wants to be milked and
whenever she wants to be milked and
whenever she wants to be milked and that’s how it happened
that’s how it happened
that’s how it happened now this is good because the cow is able
now this is good because the cow is able
now this is good because the cow is able to be milked in a more natural schedule
to be milked in a more natural schedule
to be milked in a more natural schedule but what’s really interesting to me is
but what’s really interesting to me is
but what’s really interesting to me is that it changes a relationship with the
that it changes a relationship with the
that it changes a relationship with the car replacing her in as an active
car replacing her in as an active
car replacing her in as an active participant in her own care we wanted to
participant in her own care we wanted to
participant in her own care we wanted to embrace this approach and apply it to
embrace this approach and apply it to
embrace this approach and apply it to the challenge of keeping cows clean now
the challenge of keeping cows clean now
the challenge of keeping cows clean now anyone who’s ever been in a cow barn
anyone who’s ever been in a cow barn
anyone who’s ever been in a cow barn knows that cows produce a lot of manure
knows that cows produce a lot of manure
knows that cows produce a lot of manure cows produce on average around 15 liters
cows produce on average around 15 liters
cows produce on average around 15 liters of urine and 30 kilos of feces that’s
of urine and 30 kilos of feces that’s
of urine and 30 kilos of feces that’s per cow per day so for your average BC
per cow per day so for your average BC
per cow per day so for your average BC farm of say a hundred cows they’re
farm of say a hundred cows they’re
farm of say a hundred cows they’re having to deal with 1500 liters of urine
having to deal with 1500 liters of urine
having to deal with 1500 liters of urine 3,000 kilos of feces every single day
3,000 kilos of feces every single day
3,000 kilos of feces every single day now that is a lot of mess to clean up
now that is a lot of mess to clean up
now that is a lot of mess to clean up and because of this barns are often
and because of this barns are often
and because of this barns are often designed to make removing manure easier
designed to make removing manure easier
designed to make removing manure easier we want to keep the cows out of the
we want to keep the cows out of the
we want to keep the cows out of the manure but some of these designs and
manure but some of these designs and
manure but some of these designs and structures to make removing manure
structures to make removing manure
structures to make removing manure easier can compromise the cows comfort
easier can compromise the cows comfort
easier can compromise the cows comfort and may also restrict her behavioral
and may also restrict her behavioral
and may also restrict her behavioral freedom so what if we could potty train
freedom so what if we could potty train
freedom so what if we could potty train cows
cows
cows potty trained cows would mean it has a
potty trained cows would mean it has a
potty trained cows would mean it has a Barnsley designed around cows not manure
Barnsley designed around cows not manure
Barnsley designed around cows not manure it would mean reduced ammonia emissions
it would mean reduced ammonia emissions
it would mean reduced ammonia emissions it would mean less cost and labor for
it would mean less cost and labor for
it would mean less cost and labor for the farmer I would mean a better
the farmer I would mean a better
the farmer I would mean a better environment for the cows but excitingly
environment for the cows but excitingly
environment for the cows but excitingly it would also provide cognitive
it would also provide cognitive
it would also provide cognitive enrichment for the cow animals love to
enrichment for the cow animals love to
enrichment for the cow animals love to learn and I know cows don’t have a
learn and I know cows don’t have a
learn and I know cows don’t have a reputation for being very smart but that
reputation for being very smart but that
reputation for being very smart but that could not be more wrong
could not be more wrong
could not be more wrong I’d like to share with you a video from
I’d like to share with you a video from
I’d like to share with you a video from the UBC’s animal welfare program which I
the UBC’s animal welfare program which I
the UBC’s animal welfare program which I hope shows you how much they enjoy
hope shows you how much they enjoy
hope shows you how much they enjoy learning so this calf has to touch the
learning so this calf has to touch the
learning so this calf has to touch the starter button on the right this changes
starter button on the right this changes
starter button on the right this changes the colour of the screen if it’s a red
the colour of the screen if it’s a red
the colour of the screen if it’s a red screen she touches it when she gets her
screen she touches it when she gets her
screen she touches it when she gets her milk
milk
milk if it’s a white screen however she has
if it’s a white screen however she has
if it’s a white screen however she has to resist that temptation so they’re not
to resist that temptation so they’re not
to resist that temptation so they’re not so stupid after all it’s okay she gets
so stupid after all it’s okay she gets
so stupid after all it’s okay she gets another red school so cool
another red school so cool
another red school so cool cows are smart but does that mean that
cows are smart but does that mean that
cows are smart but does that mean that can be toilet trained well truth be told
can be toilet trained well truth be told
can be toilet trained well truth be told there wasn’t a whole lot of research on
there wasn’t a whole lot of research on
there wasn’t a whole lot of research on this so we set out to see if it could
this so we set out to see if it could
this so we set out to see if it could work we conducted what we call a proof
work we conducted what we call a proof
work we conducted what we call a proof of principle experiment we wanted just
of principle experiment we wanted just
of principle experiment we wanted just to see if cows could learn to associate
to see if cows could learn to associate
to see if cows could learn to associate a specific location with this behavior
a specific location with this behavior
a specific location with this behavior in this case we chose urination because
in this case we chose urination because
in this case we chose urination because it’s easier to artificially stimulate so
it’s easier to artificially stimulate so
it’s easier to artificially stimulate so we’d bring our calves individually we
we’d bring our calves individually we
we’d bring our calves individually we pop them in their potty stop and we’d
pop them in their potty stop and we’d
pop them in their potty stop and we’d give them a diuretic which just meant
give them a diuretic which just meant
give them a diuretic which just meant they would urinate quicker so they
they would urinate quicker so they
they would urinate quicker so they didn’t have to wait in there too long as
didn’t have to wait in there too long as
didn’t have to wait in there too long as soon as they urinated we released them
soon as they urinated we released them
soon as they urinated we released them they got their milk reward the following
they got their milk reward the following
they got their milk reward the following day would be a test day on the test days
day would be a test day on the test days
day would be a test day on the test days we just put the calf in the stall and we
we just put the calf in the stall and we
we just put the calf in the stall and we waited to see what would happen if the
waited to see what would happen if the
waited to see what would happen if the urinated fantastic we rang the little
urinated fantastic we rang the little
urinated fantastic we rang the little bell we released them they got their
bell we released them they got their
bell we released them they got their milk if they failed to urinate well too
milk if they failed to urinate well too
milk if they failed to urinate well too bad they exited it into a little timeout
bad they exited it into a little timeout
bad they exited it into a little timeout pen and the next day they had another
pen and the next day they had another
pen and the next day they had another training day so did it work this is one
training day so did it work this is one
training day so did it work this is one of our girls you’ll see at the beginning
of our girls you’ll see at the beginning
of our girls you’ll see at the beginning she’s really trying to pee it’s a bit
she’s really trying to pee it’s a bit
she’s really trying to pee it’s a bit like being at the doctor’s when you have
like being at the doctor’s when you have
like being at the doctor’s when you have to pee in a cup sometimes you need a
to pee in a cup sometimes you need a
to pee in a cup sometimes you need a minute or two
minute or two
minute or two this girl’s pedigree name is UBC page
this girl’s pedigree name is UBC page
this girl’s pedigree name is UBC page star and boy did she live up to that
star and boy did she live up to that
star and boy did she live up to that name
name
name she needed just one 15 minute training
she needed just one 15 minute training
she needed just one 15 minute training session she’s about to do her trick here
session she’s about to do her trick here
session she’s about to do her trick here she urinates and she goes out to get her
she urinates and she goes out to get her
she urinates and she goes out to get her award so this calf as I said she just
award so this calf as I said she just
award so this calf as I said she just took one 50-minute training session
took one 50-minute training session
took one 50-minute training session every single day after that we popped
every single day after that we popped
every single day after that we popped her in that stall and she peed and
her in that stall and she peed and
her in that stall and she peed and actually five out of the six calves we
actually five out of the six calves we
actually five out of the six calves we trained urinated more than their
trained urinated more than their
trained urinated more than their controls and this actually got me to
controls and this actually got me to
controls and this actually got me to thinking whether there may be something
thinking whether there may be something
thinking whether there may be something to a name because the one animal who did
to a name because the one animal who did
to a name because the one animal who did not learn well her pedigree name was UBC
not learn well her pedigree name was UBC
not learn well her pedigree name was UBC cage idiot I’m not making this up so
cage idiot I’m not making this up so
cage idiot I’m not making this up so this was all very exciting we proved
this was all very exciting we proved
this was all very exciting we proved that they can do it but realistically we
that they can do it but realistically we
that they can do it but realistically we don’t expect farmers to go around
don’t expect farmers to go around
don’t expect farmers to go around training every single one of their
training every single one of their
training every single one of their calves individually it’s just not
calves individually it’s just not
calves individually it’s just not practical so I turned to technology now
practical so I turned to technology now
practical so I turned to technology now as I said I’m not really that into
as I said I’m not really that into
as I said I’m not really that into technology so I teamed up with UBC’s
technology so I teamed up with UBC’s
technology so I teamed up with UBC’s engineering physics department and an
engineering physics department and an
engineering physics department and an amazing student called John Harvey and
amazing student called John Harvey and
amazing student called John Harvey and together we came up with this this is
together we came up with this this is
together we came up with this this is the interactive camera urination
the interactive camera urination
the interactive camera urination defecation training program as we like
defecation training program as we like
defecation training program as we like to call it the ICU pee so this unit is
to call it the ICU pee so this unit is
to call it the ICU pee so this unit is really for detecting urination
really for detecting urination
really for detecting urination defecation it’s just that piece of the
defecation it’s just that piece of the
defecation it’s just that piece of the puzzle it would be mounted above the
puzzle it would be mounted above the
puzzle it would be mounted above the calves pen and it consists of two
calves pen and it consists of two
calves pen and it consists of two cameras we have a visible light camera
cameras we have a visible light camera
cameras we have a visible light camera and a thermal camera I’ll show you a bit
and a thermal camera I’ll show you a bit
and a thermal camera I’ll show you a bit of what the visible light camera allows
of what the visible light camera allows
of what the visible light camera allows us to do so with this program we throw
us to do so with this program we throw
us to do so with this program we throw out anything that isn’t black or white
out anything that isn’t black or white
out anything that isn’t black or white we clump together the black and white
we clump together the black and white
we clump together the black and white blobs to make this sort of size of a
blobs to make this sort of size of a
blobs to make this sort of size of a calf and it allows us to track
calf and it allows us to track
calf and it allows us to track individual animals as they move around
individual animals as they move around
individual animals as they move around the pen so we know who they are we know
the pen so we know who they are we know
the pen so we know who they are we know where they are with the thermal cameras
where they are with the thermal cameras
where they are with the thermal cameras were able to refine that a bit because
were able to refine that a bit because
were able to refine that a bit because the head of a calf is a little warmer
the head of a calf is a little warmer
the head of a calf is a little warmer than the rest of their body so we can
than the rest of their body so we can
than the rest of their body so we can sort of see what direction they’re going
sort of see what direction they’re going
sort of see what direction they’re going in and the cool thing with the thermal
in and the cool thing with the thermal
in and the cool thing with the thermal camera is because the inside of a cow is
camera is because the inside of a cow is
camera is because the inside of a cow is a lot hotter than the outside when they
a lot hotter than the outside when they
a lot hotter than the outside when they urinate or defecate it shows up bright
urinate or defecate it shows up bright
urinate or defecate it shows up bright spot we look at whose bottom is closest
spot we look at whose bottom is closest
spot we look at whose bottom is closest and we assign it to them so we’re just
and we assign it to them so we’re just
and we assign it to them so we’re just in the process of validating this now
in the process of validating this now
in the process of validating this now the next step will be to give feedback
the next step will be to give feedback
the next step will be to give feedback to the calf to let them know hey you got
to the calf to let them know hey you got
to the calf to let them know hey you got it right and let them go and claim their
it right and let them go and claim their
it right and let them go and claim their rewards
rewards
rewards I really believe it’s just a matter of
I really believe it’s just a matter of
I really believe it’s just a matter of time before we have a fully automated
time before we have a fully automated
time before we have a fully automated potty training cow system that will
potty training cow system that will
potty training cow system that will allow us to train and collect
allow us to train and collect
allow us to train and collect automatically reducing emissions
automatically reducing emissions
automatically reducing emissions reducing labor and improving lives for
reducing labor and improving lives for
reducing labor and improving lives for cars technology doesn’t have to be scary
cars technology doesn’t have to be scary
cars technology doesn’t have to be scary and I think the way in which we’re using
and I think the way in which we’re using
and I think the way in which we’re using technology can change it doesn’t just
technology can change it doesn’t just
technology can change it doesn’t just have to be for automating things that we
have to be for automating things that we
have to be for automating things that we already do it can be for approaching a
already do it can be for approaching a
already do it can be for approaching a problem in a whole new way I really
problem in a whole new way I really
problem in a whole new way I really believe that technology and
believe that technology and
believe that technology and out-of-the-box thinking hold the key to
out-of-the-box thinking hold the key to
out-of-the-box thinking hold the key to restoring the balance in a relationship
restoring the balance in a relationship
restoring the balance in a relationship with the animals that produce our food
with the animals that produce our food
with the animals that produce our food and I think that’s something we all have
and I think that’s something we all have
and I think that’s something we all have a moral responsibility to care about
a moral responsibility to care about
a moral responsibility to care about thank you
”
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