Researchers from Michigan State University and the Agriculture Department say fiber from processed and sterilized cow manure could take the place of sawdust in fiberboard, which is used to make furniture, flooring and many other products. The researchers hope it could be part of the solution to disposing of the 1.5 trillion to 2 trillion pounds of manure produced annually in the U.S. “We really need to think outside the box on what uses for manure are,” MSU agriculture professor Wendy Powers said.