Meet Veronika: The Cow Who Learned to Use Tools – Challenging Our Understanding of Animal Cognition
For decades, the iconic Far Side cartoon “Cow Tools” has served as a humorous reminder of the perceived cognitive gap between humans and other animals, particularly livestock. The joke, of course, is that cows don’t use tools. But now, a Swiss Brown cow named Veronika in Austria is turning that assumption on its head. Her penchant for using sticks – and even a deck scrub broom – to scratch herself has sparked a scientific sensation, prompting researchers to reconsider the cognitive capabilities of cows and other farm animals. A recent paper published in the journal Current Biology details Veronika’s behavior, suggesting a level of problem-solving and tool use previously underestimated in bovine species.
The Evolution of Tool Use: From Humans to Animals
Historically, tool use was considered a defining characteristic of humanity. However, as our understanding of the animal kingdom has deepened, examples of tool use have emerged across a surprisingly diverse range of species. Initially observed in primates, the phenomenon has since been documented in marine mammals and birds, challenging long-held beliefs about intelligence and cognitive complexity.
Dolphins, for instance, have been observed tossing objects, a behavior some scientists interpret as a form of tool use, particularly when it involves social interaction. This can manifest as playful communication, social bonding, or even displays of aggression. Similarly, octopuses exhibit throwing behavior, demonstrating remarkable dexterity and problem-solving skills. These observations broadened the scope of what was considered “intelligent” behavior beyond the primate lineage.
A Feathered Revolution: Tool Use in Birds
Perhaps the most surprising discovery came with the observation of tool use in birds. As the only surviving lineage of dinosaurs, birds represent a branch of evolution that diverged from mammals hundreds of millions of years ago. This discovery suggested that the capacity for tool use wasn’t a uniquely mammalian trait, but rather a convergent evolution – a similar solution arising independently in different species.
The corvids – crows and jays – are particularly adept tool users in the wild, displaying complex behaviors like remembering faces and mourning their dead. However, research with captive birds, like the cockatoo Figaro, has revealed even more astonishing abilities.
Figaro: The Cockatoo Engineer
In 2012, researchers observed Figaro, a captive cockatoo, attempting to retrieve a stone that had fallen behind a metal divider. Initially, he tried to reach it directly, but when that failed, he ingeniously used a stick to extend his reach. When a nut was placed behind the divider as an incentive, Figaro’s problem-solving skills truly shone.
He initially selected a stick from his enclosure, but it was too short. Remarkably, he then splintered off a piece of the enclosure’s wooden base and successfully used it to pull the nut within reach. Figaro didn’t stop there. He repeatedly modified his tools, sometimes performing four separate adjustments before successfully retrieving the nut. He even employed different techniques – dragging and sweeping motions – to maximize his success. What’s more, other cockatoos who observed Figaro’s performance quickly learned to replicate his behavior.
By 2022, Figaro and his fellow cockatoos had even begun to combine tools – a stick and a ball – to play a rudimentary form of “golf,” demonstrating a level of planning and coordination previously thought impossible in birds.
Meet Veronika: A Cow with a Scratching Solution
Despite the growing body of research on animal tool use, very little attention has been paid to the cognitive abilities of livestock. This is precisely what intrigued Alice Auersperg, a cognitive biologist at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, when she saw footage of Veronika’s scratching behavior. “It was clear that this was not accidental,” Auersperg stated. “This was a meaningful example of tool use.”
Veronika, a pet Swiss Brown cow owned by organic farmer and baker Witgar Wiegele, had developed a habit of picking up sticks to scratch hard-to-reach areas of her body. Auersperg and her postdoc, Antonio Osuna-Mascaro, visited Wiegele’s farm to investigate further.
The Broom Experiment: Testing Veronika’s Tool Use
With Wiegele’s permission, the researchers conducted a series of randomized trials using a deck scrub broom, chosen for its asymmetrical shape. Over seven sessions, comprising ten trials each, they recorded 76 instances of Veronika using the broom to scratch herself. The results were compelling.
Veronika consistently used her tongue to lift and position the broom in her mouth, clamping down with her teeth for a stable grip. This allowed her to effectively scratch areas she couldn’t reach otherwise. She demonstrated a preference for the brush end for scrubbing her upper body and the stick end for more sensitive areas like her udders and belly skin flaps, employing gentle, targeted pushes. Crucially, she also anticipated the need to adjust her grip for optimal scratching.
Implications and Future Research
The authors of the Current Biology paper conclude that Veronika’s behavior demonstrates “goal-directed, context-sensitive tooling,” as well as versatility in her tool-use anticipation and fine-motor targeting. While the behavior is likely motivated by the desire to relieve itching from insect bites, Veronika’s open environment and regular interactions with humans likely contributed to the emergence of these unusual cognitive abilities.
This research challenges the notion that technical problem-solving is limited to species with large brains and specialized appendages like hands or beaks. “[Veronika] did not fashion tools like the cow in Gary Larson’s cartoon, but she selected, adjusted, and used one with notable dexterity and flexibility,” the authors wrote. “Perhaps the real absurdity lies not in imagining a tool-using cow, but in assuming such a thing could never exist.”
The discovery of tool use in Veronika opens up exciting new avenues for research into the cognitive capabilities of livestock and other often-overlooked species. It suggests that intelligence and problem-solving skills may be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously believed. Further research is needed to explore the extent of these abilities and the factors that contribute to their development. This could have significant implications for animal welfare, farming practices, and our overall understanding of the animal mind. GearTech will continue to follow this fascinating story as it unfolds.
DOI: Current Biology, 2025. 10.1016/j.cub.2025.11.059