A Tool-Using Cow Is Redefining What We Know About Farm Animal Intelligence

It is easy to drive past a pasture and see cattle as nothing more than passive parts of the landscape. We tend to assume their lives are simple, revolving entirely around eating and sleeping with little room for complex thought. However, a remarkable discovery in a small Austrian village is turning that assumption upside down.

One cow has recently displayed a sophisticated talent that was supposed to be impossible for her species, forcing scientists to ask just how much we have been missing.

The Clever Cow with a Tool

Most people think of cows as simple animals that spend their days grazing in the fields. We rarely stop to wonder what is going on inside their heads. However, a Swiss Brown cow named Veronika is proving that there is more to cattle than meets the eye. Living in a small village in Austria, Veronika has stunned researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna by showing off a special skill: using tools.

Veronika was observed picking up sticks, rakes, and brooms to scratch her itches. While many animals rub against trees or fences to get comfortable, Veronika actually holds and manipulates objects to help herself. When cognitive biologist Alice Auersperg saw footage of this behavior, she realized immediately that it was significant. She noted that Veronika’s actions were not accidental but were a clear example of a cow using a tool to solve a problem.

This is a big moment for animal science. Even though humans have lived alongside cattle for roughly 10,000 years, this is the first time a cow has been officially documented using a tool in this way. These findings hint that cows may be much cleverer than we previously assumed, challenging us to look at farm animals in a whole new light.

More Than Just a Lucky Scratch

To understand exactly how sophisticated Veronika’s behavior was, the researchers set up a series of controlled observations. They focused on how she used a simple deck brush, which had stiff bristles on one side and a smooth handle on the other. Over the course of dozens of trials, Veronika demonstrated that she wasn’t just randomly moving the object around; she had a specific plan.

She manipulated the broom entirely with her mouth, using her tongue to lift it and her teeth to secure it in place. What truly astonished the team was her ability to switch techniques depending on where she had an itch. Veronika seemed to understand that the two ends of the broom served different purposes.

When she needed to scratch areas with thick skin, like her back or flanks, she used the rough, bristled end of the broom. However, when she needed to reach sensitive areas like her underbelly or udder, she flipped the tool around to use the smooth handle. She even adjusted her pressure, scrubbing vigorously on tough spots while using gentle, controlled movements on delicate skin.

This behavior is known as “multipurpose tool use,” meaning the animal understands that one object can be used in different ways to solve different problems. Dr. Antonio Osuna-Mascaró of the University of Veterinary Medicine noted that they were not expecting a cow to use a tool in such a versatile way. Until now, this specific type of cleverness has generally only been documented in advanced species like chimpanzees.

A Happy Cow is a Smart Cow

While Veronika’s abilities are impressive, the researchers emphasize that she is likely not the “Einstein of cows.” Instead, her unique talents probably emerged because she lives a very different life than most cattle. Veronika is a thirteen-year-old family pet living in a stimulating environment in Nötsch im Gailtal, a place described by Dr. Osuna-Mascaró as being straight out of The Sound of Music.

Her owner, organic farmer and baker Witgar Wiegele, shares a close bond with her. Veronika watches eagerly for his car when he delivers bread and moos loudly when she recognizes him. This loving atmosphere provided the safety and freedom she needed to explore. She initially taught herself to scratch using fallen branches. Seeing her interest, Wiegele began providing her with brooms and rakes to help her perfect the technique.

Most livestock live much shorter lives in restricted settings without access to such objects. Veronika’s story suggests that complex problem-solving skills might be dormant in many cows. These abilities likely only surface when the animals are given the time, space, and opportunity to learn, rather than being strictly confined to industrial farm settings.

Joining the Club of Smart Species

Veronika’s behavior places her in an elite group of animals known for their problem-solving abilities. Typically, sophisticated tool use is associated with primates and corvids, such as crows. For instance, chimpanzees are famous for using sticks to fish for termites or using stones to crack open hard nuts. By manipulating a broom to achieve a specific goal, Veronika demonstrates that cattle can share similar cognitive traits with these highly intelligent species.

Experts classify her specific actions as “egocentric” tool use. This means she uses an object to act upon her own body, rather than using a tool to manipulate something in the outside world. While using a broom to scratch an itch might seem less complex than cracking a nut, it still requires significant brainpower. To succeed, Veronika must anticipate the relief she wants, select the right tool, and constantly adjust her grip to make it work.

This discovery suggests that the capacity for such thinking has deep evolutionary roots. It indicates that while cows may not be building structures, they possess a hidden depth of intelligence that allows them to adapt to their immediate needs in clever ways.

A New Perspective on Nature

Veronika proves that the animals sharing our world still have secrets to share. She shows that with a little freedom and safety, intelligence can emerge in the most unexpected places. She forces us to rethink what is happening behind the eyes of the livestock we see every day.

Her owner, Witgar Wiegele, hopes this story inspires a real appreciation for the natural world. He believes that recognizing the value in nature is essential for our own future. “Save the nature, then you protect yourself,” he reminds us.

Veronika revealed her talents because she had the space to explore and a human willing to pay attention. Her success is a gentle nudge to look closer at the creatures around us. There may be many more Veronikas out there, just waiting for the chance to show us who they really are.

Featured Image Source: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró