Austrian Cow Veronika Documented Using Tools to Scratch Herself

Veronika, a 13-year-old Swiss Brown cow in Austria, has been documented using sticks, brushes, and brooms to scratch herself, marking the first scientifically confirmed case of tool use in cattle. Researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna observed her deliberate and adaptive use of tools, including switching broom ends for different body areas. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about cow intelligence and suggests greater cognitive abilities in cattle than traditionally recognized.