For the first time ever, a cow has been observed intentionally using a tool – a broom – to scratch itself, even selecting which end to use based on the body part being targeted. This behavior, documented in a recent study, challenges assumptions about animal intelligence and tool use.
Discovery in the Austrian Alps
The observation began with Witgar Wiegele, an Austrian farmer, noticing his Swiss Brown cow, Veronika, repeatedly picking up sticks and using them to scratch. He shared video footage with researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, who confirmed the behavior met strict definitions of tool use – an extension of the animal’s body to achieve a goal.
Rigorous Testing Confirms Intentionality
Alice Auersperg and Antonio Osuna-Mascaró conducted controlled experiments, placing a broom in front of Veronika in a random orientation. Over 70 sessions, she consistently chose the functional end (brush) for scratching, proving she understood its purpose.
More surprisingly, Veronika adjusted her grip based on where she wanted to scratch:
- For thick skin (back), she’d pick up the broom by the thin handle and use the abrasive brush.
- For sensitive areas (navel, udder), she’d grip the brush itself and rub gently with the handle.
This indicates she planned which part of her body to scratch before picking up the tool, a level of cognitive planning rarely seen in livestock.
How She Does It
Veronika deftly manipulates the broom using her tongue and teeth, sometimes readjusting her grip mid-scratch if the initial angle doesn’t allow full reach. This isn’t simply interacting with an object; it’s controlling the tool to achieve a specific outcome.
What This Means
Experts agree this is definitive tool use. “They clearly show that the cow uses the brush, the one end or the other, depending on the area that it is scratching,” said Josep Call, a comparative psychologist at the University of St Andrews. Gloria Sabbatini, an animal biologist, notes this is an “egocentric” form of tool use—applying it directly to her own body—making corrections intuitive and fast.
This discovery marks the first documented instance of tool use in cattle. The researchers suggest this ability may be latent in the species, evolving over millennia but rarely observed due to typical farming conditions. Veronika’s enriched environment, as a pet, likely facilitated this expression. Similar behavior has also been noted in a Brahman bull, suggesting the potential for wider prevalence.
This research highlights that intelligence and adaptability may be far more widespread in livestock than previously assumed. It raises questions about the cognitive capabilities of animals in industrial farming environments and the importance of providing stimulating environments to unlock their full potential.
