Scientists are being compelled to radically reassess the intelligence of cattle after a remarkable discovery in the Austrian Alps. A pet cow named Veronika has demonstrated a sophisticated, multi-purpose ability to use tools – a behaviour once thought to be the exclusive domain of humans, chimpanzees, and a handful of other highly cognitive species.
An Idyllic Discovery in the Gail Valley
The extraordinary story began on the organic farm of Witgar Wiegele in Nötsch im Gailtal, Carinthia. Wiegele, who also works as a baker, noticed his beloved Brown Swiss cow, Veronika, occasionally playing with sticks. Over time, he observed her progressing to using them deliberately to scratch parts of her body she couldn't reach with her hoof or tongue.
"I was naturally amazed by her extraordinary intelligence," Wiegele said, reflecting on how Veronika also recognises family voices. His observations soon reached biologists in Vienna specialising in animal intelligence, who immediately recognised the potential significance.
Dr Antonio Osuna Mascaró from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, described the setting as "straight out of The Sound of Music" – a picturesque landscape of green forests, blue lakes, and mountains. He and colleague Dr Alice Auersperg swiftly travelled to Veronika's meadow to investigate.
Purposeful and Adaptable Tool Use
Armed with a simple deck brush, the researchers conducted a series of field trials. Their findings, published in the journal Current Biology, revealed Veronika's surprising dexterity and intentionality. She didn't just pick up the brush; she wielded it appropriately for different tasks.
When presented with the brush at an awkward angle, Veronika used her tongue to reposition it before clamping it securely in her teeth. Most strikingly, she demonstrated what scientists term multi-purpose tool use. For the tough skin on her back, she preferentially used the bristled end of the brush. However, for more delicate areas like her udders and belly, she would switch to using the smooth wooden handle, scratching more gently.
"After a while we started to observe a pattern: Veronika indeed had a preference for using the broom end, but when she used the handle end she was doing so in a meaningful way," explained Dr Osuna Mascaró, who initially thought the behaviour might be accidental. Over seven sessions, the team recorded 76 instances of deliberate tool use.
Rethinking the 'Cow Tool' Joke
The discovery stands in amusing contrast to a famous 1982 Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson titled "Cow Tools," which depicted a cow behind a table of bizarre, crudely fashioned implements. Larson later explained the joke was that cow-made tools would inevitably lack sophistication. While Veronika is not crafting tools, her adept use of them is a serious scientific revelation.
Tool use is documented in species like crows, dolphins, and octopuses, but it is exceptionally rare in livestock and had never been formally recorded in cattle. The ability to use a single tool for multiple purposes, as Veronika does, is rarer still, having been convincingly shown only in humans and chimpanzees until now.
The researchers speculate that Veronika's unique environment contributed to her skills. At 13 years old, she is older than most farmed cattle and lives a stimulating life as a cherished pet. However, they doubt she is a lone genius. "We don't believe that Veronika is the Einstein of cows," said Dr Osuna Mascaró.
"What this tells us is that cows have the potential to innovate tool use, and we have ignored this fact for thousands of years," he added. "It's shocking that we're only discovering this now." Since the study began, the team has learned of other anecdotal reports of clever cows, suggesting a broader, overlooked cognitive capacity.
The research does not herald the evolution of a 'super-cow,' but it powerfully challenges long-held assumptions. As the scientists note, perhaps the real absurdity is not in imagining a tool-using cow, but in assuming such a thing could never exist.
