Austrian Cow Uses Tools, Proving Cattle Are Smarter Than We Think

Scientists in Austria have documented something remarkable: a cow named Veronika using a tool with the skill of a primate.

The 13-year-old Swiss brown cow doesn't just grab a brush and scratch randomly. She picks it up with her tongue like a hand, positions it horizontally in her mouth, turns her head, and strategically scratches different parts of her body. She even switches which end of the brush she uses depending on where she needs to reach.

Cognitive biologists Antonio Osuna-Mascaró and Alice Auersperg from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna traveled to a picturesque mountain village in Carinthia to study Veronika after her owner sent them a video. They expected to wait days to observe the behavior, but Veronika performed immediately upon their arrival.

"She actually outperformed our hypothesis," Dr. Osuna-Mascaró said. The precision and flexibility she demonstrated exceeded what scientists typically see in tool-using animals.

The researchers don't think Veronika is a "bovine Einstein." Instead, they believe her enriched life as a pet, combined with her 13 years of experience, gave her the time and opportunity to develop this skill. That suggests other cows might be capable of similar behaviors if given the chance.

Why This Inspires

This discovery challenges deep-seated assumptions about farm animals. Cows are often used as insults for unintelligence, but this research shows they may not deserve that reputation at all.

Dr. Auersperg points out that livestock remain "habitually understudied" because research focuses on production rather than cognition. "Here is this animal that basically stands in any village that we live in and we have only observed this now," she said.

Anthea Harrison, who runs Echo Farm tourist attraction near Mount Gambier, South Australia, isn't surprised. She's watched her highland cross named Bonnie learn to open gates and says cattle have intelligence equivalent to pet dogs. "Farm animals are much smarter than they get credit for," she told ABC. "Visitors to the farm are always surprised by what they find."

The researchers hope their published study will spark more interest and investment in understanding livestock behavior and cognitive abilities. There's already anecdotal evidence of other cattle using tools, suggesting Veronika might represent an untapped potential rather than a rare exception.

This four-legged genius is opening doors to a new understanding of the animals we've lived alongside for thousands of years.