Austrian Cow Uses Broom Like a Tool to Scratch Herself

Veronika the cow just rewrote what we thought animals could do.

For nine years, this Swiss brown cow on an Austrian farm has been picking up brooms and sticks in her mouth to scratch herself. Her owner, organic farmer Witgar Wiegele, finally sent footage to cognitive biologists at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, and what they discovered amazed them.

Veronika doesn't just grab tools randomly. She thinks ahead about which body part needs scratching, then selects the right end of the broom for the job.

When researchers placed a deck brush in front of her 70 times, a clear pattern emerged. For her thick-skinned back, Veronika grabbed the thin handle and used the big, abrasive brush end for a vigorous scratch. For delicate areas like her udder or navel, she flipped her strategy and gently used the smooth handle instead.

"This particular video was different," researcher Alice Auersperg said. "It showed the tool as an embodied part of the animal, used as a direct elongation of her body."

The precision gets even more impressive. Veronika would sometimes grab the broom, realize she couldn't reach her target spot, drop it, and pick it up again in a different position. She even raised her tail in anticipation when preparing to scratch sensitive areas, showing she planned her moves before acting.

Getting the right grip isn't easy for a cow. Veronika rolls out her tongue, wraps it around the tool, brings it to her mouth, and presses it firmly between her lower teeth and upper dental pad. Adjusting from there takes real effort and intention.

Why This Inspires

This discovery challenges what we think farm animals can do. Scientists confirmed Veronika meets the strict definition of tool use because she controls the tool's orientation and uses it as an extension of her body, not just something to rub against.

"I have absolutely no doubt that this is tool use," said Josep Call, a comparative psychologist at the University of St Andrews who wasn't involved in the study. "They clearly show that the cow uses the brush, one end or the other, depending on the area that it is scratching."

The research, published in Current Biology, opens new questions about animal intelligence. If one cow figured this out on her own, what other hidden talents might farm animals possess?

Veronika proves that remarkable minds can emerge in the most unexpected places.