2021年经济学人 如何训练奶牛上厕所（1）（在线收听）

Now, in the hope of fighting climate change, Dr Jan Langbein, of the Fredrich-Loweffler-Institut in Germany, and his colleagues hope they can train cows to use the toilet, too.

现在，为了对抗气候变化，德国Fredrich Loweffler研究所的扬·朗本博士和他的同事们希望也能训练奶牛上厕所。

Cow urine contains urea, a nitrogen-rich compound that, when broken down by enzymes in cow faeces, is converted into ammonia.

牛尿中含有尿素，一种富含氮的化合物。当尿素被牛粪便中的酶分解时会转化为氨，

Bacteria in the soil, in turn, convert that ammonia into nitrous oxide.

土壤里的细菌反之将氨转化为氧化亚氮。

Best known as a dental anaesthetic, the stuff is also a potent greenhouse gas.

众所周知，这种物质是一种牙科麻醉剂，同时也是一种强效温室气体。

And agriculture is a big source of it.

而农业是这种物质的主要来源。

In the European Union, livestock farming accounts for around 70% of ammonia emissions.

在欧盟，畜牧业约占氨排放量的70%。

Collecting and treating cow pee before the ammonia can be produced might, therefore, seem like a good idea.

因此，在氨产生之前就对牛尿进行收集和处理似乎是个好主意。

But it has proved difficult in the past without confining the cows to small areas, which is bad for their welfare.

但事实证明，在过去，如果不把牛限制在小范围内饲养(不利于牛的福利)，那么很难对牛尿进行收集和处理。

As Dr Langbein describes in Current Biology, this conundrum could be solved if free-roaming cows could be persuaded to voluntarily relieve themselves in a latrine.

正如朗本博士在《当代生物学》中所描述的那样，如果能够说服自由漫步的奶牛自愿在厕所中小便，那么这个难题就可以解决。

But going to the loo is a tricky business, says Dr Langbein.

但朗本博士表示，让牛上厕所是一件棘手的事情。

It requires awareness of bladder fullness, self-control to override excretory reflexes, selection of a latrine, and intentional relaxation of the muscles which control the flow of urine.

它需要牛意识到膀胱充盈、控制排泄反射、选择厕所以及有意识地放松控制尿流的肌肉。

Nevertheless, he has developed a three-stage process to help cows master toilet training.

尽管如此，朗本博士开发了一个分为三个阶段的过程来帮助奶牛上厕所。