That assumption is now being questioned thanks to a real cow named Veronika. A study published in Current Biology reports the first documented case of tool use in a pet cow, suggesting that cattle may be far more cognitively capable than previously believed.

“The findings highlight how assumptions about livestock intelligence may reflect gaps in observation rather than genuine cognitive limits,” says Alice Auersperg, a cognitive biologist at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna.

Meet Veronika, the Tool-Using Cow

Veronika is a Swiss Brown cow who lives as a companion animal rather than being raised for food production. She belongs to Witgar Wiegele, an organic farmer and baker who considers her part of the family.

More than a decade ago, Wiegele noticed an unusual behavior. Veronika would pick up sticks and use them to scratch her body. This behavior eventually caught scientific attention when it was recorded on video and shared with researchers.

“When I saw the footage, it was immediately clear that this was not accidental,” Auersperg says. “This was a meaningful example of tool use in a species that is rarely considered from a cognitive perspective.”

Testing Tool Use in Controlled Experiments

To better understand this behavior, researchers conducted structured tests with Veronika. They placed a deck brush on the ground in different positions and observed how she interacted with it.

Across multiple trials, Veronika consistently chose specific parts of the brush depending on where she wanted to scratch. Her selections were not random. Instead, they matched the needs of different areas of her body.

“We show that a cow can engage in genuinely flexible tool use,” says Antonio Osuna-Mascaró. “Veronika is not just using an object to scratch herself. She uses different parts of the same tool for different purposes, and she applies different techniques depending on the function of the tool and the body region.”

Flexible and Multi-Purpose Tool Use

The researchers found clear patterns in how Veronika used the brush. For larger, firmer areas like her back, she preferred the bristled side. For more sensitive regions on her lower body, she switched to the smoother handle.

She also adjusted her movements. Scratching her upper body involved broader, stronger motions, while movements directed at lower areas were slower and more precise.

Tool use is defined as using an external object to achieve a goal through physical interaction. Veronika’s actions meet this definition and go beyond it. Her behavior qualifies as flexible, multi-purpose tool use, meaning she uses different features of the same object for different outcomes.

This type of behavior is extremely rare and has previously been clearly documented only in chimpanzees among non-human species.

Overcoming Physical Limitations

Veronika’s tool use is directed at her own body, which is known as egocentric tool use. While this form is typically considered less complex than using tools on external objects, it still presents challenges.

Because cows lack hands, Veronika must manipulate tools using her mouth. Despite this limitation, she shows careful control and appears to anticipate the effects of her actions. She adjusts her grip and movements to achieve the desired result.

Why This Behavior May Be Rare

The researchers believe Veronika’s unique living conditions may have contributed to her behavior. Unlike most cattle, she has lived a long life in a complex and stimulating environment. She has daily interactions with humans and access to a variety of objects she can manipulate.

These factors likely created opportunities for exploration and innovation that are uncommon for most cows.

“[Veronika] did not fashion tools like the cow in Gary Larson’s cartoon, but she selected, adjusted, and used one with notable dexterity and flexibility,” the researchers write. “Perhaps the real absurdity lies not in imagining a tool-using cow, but in assuming such a thing could never exist.”

Rethinking Animal Intelligence

This discovery represents the first confirmed case of tool use in cattle and expands the range of species known to demonstrate this ability. It also raises the possibility that similar behaviors may exist but have gone unnoticed.

The research team is now exploring which environmental and social conditions allow such behaviors to develop. They also encourage others to report similar observations.

“Because we suspect this ability may be more widespread than currently documented,” Osuna-Mascaró says, “we invite readers who have observed cows or bulls using sticks or other handheld objects for purposeful actions to contact us.”