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Rare Behavior of Brown Swiss Cow in Austria, Observed in Rural Environment, Leads Researchers to Document Flexible Use of Tools, Raising New Questions About Bovine Animal Cognition in Domestic Mammals
Veronika, a 13-year-old pet Brown Swiss cow raised in Austria, has been surprising scientists by using sticks as tools, a rare behavior in animals, now documented by researchers, expanding the debate on cattle intelligence and cognitive limits of the species.
A Cow That Uses Objects with Defined Purpose
Veronika developed the habit of wandering the farm in search of sticks and wooden scraps, which she holds in her mouth to scratch different parts of her body.
The behavior drew attention for involving intentional choice of the object and practical application, something typically associated with species that have higher cognitive and brain development.
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Until now, the use of tools for mechanical purposes had never been formally documented in cattle, making Veronika’s case particularly relevant to science.
Owner Observations Revealed Advanced Signs
Witgar Wiegele, an organic farmer from the Austrian region of Carinthia, noticed that Veronika not only used objects but consistently repeated the behavior.
Moreover, the cow recognized family voices and ran towards them when called, indicating social memory and auditory association capability.
These initial observations motivated video recording, later shared with researchers specializing in animal intelligence.
Controlled Tests Confirmed the Behavior
After contacting scientists from the University of Vienna, Veronika became the subject of a behavioral study published today in the scientific journal Current Biology.
In the trials, researchers randomly placed a wooden broom on the floor and observed which end was chosen by the cow.
The tests recorded that Veronika selected different parts of the tool to scratch specific body areas, adjusting technique and position as needed.
Multifunctional Use Surprises Experts
According to Antonio Osuna-Mascaró, the lead author of the study, Veronika demonstrates genuinely flexible use of tools, adapting strategies according to the intended function.
He highlighted, in an interview with Popular Science, that the cow not only manipulates objects but applies different techniques depending on the body region.
This type of multifunctional use is extremely rare in the animal kingdom and, aside from humans, has been substantially observed only in chimpanzees.
Environment and Longevity May Explain the Case
Although Veronika does not construct tools, her dexterity in handling them is considered impressive by the researchers involved in the study.
A possible explanation lies in the environment she lived in, as few cows reach 13 years or grow up in such stimulating spaces.
The conditions of exploration, development, and interaction may have allowed Veronika to express cognitive abilities rarely observed in cattle.
The case expands scientific understanding of the species and suggests that cows may be more intelligent than previously thought.
With information from Revista Galileu.
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