A cow in Austria is challenging what scientists thought about cattle intelligence. Veronika, a Brown Swiss from the village of Carinthia, has amazed researchers by using a stick to scratch her back—the first documented case of tool use in a cow.
How Veronika Shows Extraordinary Intelligence
Veronika doesn’t just scratch herself. She can recognize family members’ voices and runs to meet them when called. Her owner, Witgar Wiegele, an organic farmer and baker, has cared for her as a pet for over 10 years. He explained that she first played with sticks in her mouth before figuring out how to use them as tools.
“I was amazed by her intelligence and thought how much we could learn from animals: patience, calmness, contentment, and gentleness,” Wiegele said.
A research paper published in Current Biology highlights her actions as the first evidence of flexible, multi-purpose tool use in cattle.
Scientific Observations
Dr. Alice Auersperg, a cognitive biologist at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, noted that Veronika’s behavior is not accidental. She uses different parts of the stick for different body regions and adjusts her movements depending on the area she wants to scratch.
Researcher Antonio Osuna-Mascaró added:
“Veronika anticipates the outcome of her actions and adapts her grip and movements accordingly, despite physical limitations using her mouth.”
Tool Use in the Animal Kingdom
Tool use is rare outside humans and is usually seen in:
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Chimpanzees using sticks for larvae or honey.
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Capuchin monkeys cracking nuts with rocks.
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New Caledonian crows bending twigs to extract insects.
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Octopuses using coconut shells for shelter.
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Bottlenose dolphins using marine sponges to hunt.
Veronika’s egocentric tool use—using a tool on herself—is unique and highlights the cognitive potential of cattle, previously underestimated.
Why Veronika’s Environment Matters
Scientists suggest her intelligence may be due to her long life, human interaction, and access to a rich environment. Unlike most farm cows, she explores freely, interacts with objects, and faces challenges that encourage problem-solving.
The researchers invite other farmers to report cows or bulls using tools, as this behavior may be more common than documented.
“Perhaps the real surprise is not imagining a tool-using cow, but assuming it could never exist,” they concluded, referencing Gary Larson’s 1982 Far Side cartoon about cow tools.
