Austrian Cow Veronika Documented Using Tools to Scratch Herself

Veronika, a 13-year-old Swiss Brown cow in Austria, has been documented using sticks, rakes, and deck brushes 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 selection and adaptive use of different tool ends for various body parts. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about bovine intelligence and suggests greater cognitive abilities in cows than traditionally recognized.