- Veronika is a pet cow in Austria that flexibly uses a tool to scratch herself.
- The cow has spent 10 years in an open environment with many manipulable objects.
- This marks the first documented case of a cow using a tool in a functional, flexible way.
- Why it matters: It expands the list of animals that can solve problems with tools and challenges assumptions about cattle intelligence.
Apet cow in Austria, Veronika, flexibly uses a tool to scratch herself, proving cattle can solve problems and expanding the list of tool-using animals.
Context
Veronika is a pet cow that has lived for 10 years in a complex, open environment filled with manipulable objects. Unlike cattle raised for milk or meat, her surroundings encouraged exploratory and innovative behavior.
The Study
Videos of Veronika circulating online caught the attention of veterinary researchers in Vienna. They visited the farm, conducted behavioral tests, and carried out controlled trials.
> “In repeated sessions, they verified that her decisions were consistent and functionally appropriate,” a press release stated.
During the tests, the cow was offered different textures and objects. She adapted according to her needs, sometimes choosing soft bristles and other times a stiffer point.
> “In the tests, the cow was offered different textures and objects, and she adapted according to her needs,” the researchers said.
She used different parts of the same tool for specific purposes and even modified her technique depending on the type of object or the area of her body she wanted to scratch.
> “Sometimes she chose soft bristles and other times a stiffer point,” the study authors explained.
Although using a tool to relieve irritation is considered “less complex” compared to, for example, using a sharp rock to access seeds, the specialists greatly value Veronika’s ability.
> “Although they consider using a tool to relieve irritation ‘less complex’ compared to, for example, using a sharp rock to access seeds, the specialists greatly value Veronika’s ability,” the authors noted.
For now, she demonstrates that she can decide which part of the tool is most useful to her.
> “For now, she demonstrates that she can decide which part of the tool is most useful to her,” the study authors said.
The finding suggests that we have underestimated the cognitive capacity of cattle, according to the authors.
What Tool Use Means
The ability to choose and modify a tool indicates a level of planning and problem-solving that was previously attributed only to primates and a few marine mammals.
> “The finding suggests that we have underestimated the cognitive capacity of cattle,” the authors said.
For now, the researchers are trying to determine how this cow developed an awareness of her surroundings. They are searching for more videos of cattle using tools to gather further evidence about their cognitive abilities.
> “For now, the researchers are trying to determine how this cow developed an awareness of her surroundings,” the study team said.
Broader Implications
Until now, tool use was considered a select club, almost exclusively for primates (especially great apes, but also macaques and capuchins), some birds like corvids and parrots, and marine mammals like dolphins.
> “Until now, tool use was considered a select club, almost exclusively for primates (especially great apes, but also macaques and capuchins), some birds like corvids and parrots, and marine mammals like dolphins,” the researchers noted.
Finding it in a cow is a fascinating example of convergent evolution: intelligence arises as a response to similar problems, regardless of how different the animal’s ‘design’ may be.
> “Finding it in a cow is a fascinating example of convergent evolution: intelligence arises as a response to similar problems, regardless of how different the animal’s ‘design’ may be,” said Miquel Llorente, director of the Department of Psychology at the University of Girona, who was not involved in the study, in a statement to the Science Media Centre Spain.
Key Takeaways
- Veronika demonstrates that cattle can use tools flexibly, a trait once thought limited to primates and a few marine mammals.
- The cow’s 10-year exposure to a varied environment likely fostered her innovative behavior.
- This discovery expands the list of tool-using animals and challenges assumptions about the cognitive limits of livestock.
- Further research may uncover more examples of tool use in cattle and other ungulates.
Visual Summary
| Species | Tool Use Status | Notable Example |
|---|---|---|
| Great apes | Common | Using sticks to extract termites |
| Dolphins | Common | Using sponges to protect snouts |
| Cattle (Veronika) | First documented | Using a branch to scratch skin |
The study was published in Current Biology.
