Archive · 23 Jan 2026
Cow Veronika Uses Tools to Scratch, Stuns Scientists
There is a cow named Veronika who lives on a farm in Austria.
For almost ten years, she has been using sticks and brushes to scratch herself.
Scientists were very surprised because cows are not known for using tools like this.
They studied Veronika and found that she uses different parts of the brush for different parts of her body.
This shows that cows might be smarter than people thought.
The scientists hope that more people will study farm animals to learn more about them.
Veronika, a 13-year-old Swiss Brown cow, uses sticks and brushes to scratch herself.
Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna documented her tool use, marking the first known case in a pet cow.
Veronika intentionally uses different parts of the brush for different body parts, showing decision-making abilities.
Scientists were surprised by her behavior, as tool use in cows is rarely observed.
The study suggests that cattle may have more advanced cognitive abilities than previously believed.
- Who
- Veronika, a 13-year-old Swiss Brown cow
- What
- Using tools to scratch herself
- When
- Observed for nearly a decade, recently studied by researchers
- Where
- Notsch im Gailtal, Austria
- Why
- To scratch hard-to-reach parts of her body
- Cow's Name
- Veronika
- Cow's Breed
- Swiss Brown
- Location
- Notsch im Gailtal, Austria
- Researchers
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
- Journal
- Current Biology
- Tool Used
- Sticks and a deck brush
- Observation Duration
- Nearly a decade
