In the mountain pastures of Austria, a very clever cow is overturning our view of how intelligent these creatures actually are.
A pet Swiss Brown cow named Veronika has learned how to use both ends of a stick to scratch her own back. This kind of flexible tool use is rarely seen in the animal kingdom and has never been documented in cattle before.
Dr Antonio Osuna-Mascaro from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, led the study into Veronika’s tool use, which was recently published in Current Biology.
At first, the team gave her a broom brush, expecting her to use only the bristle end. Instead, Veronika adjusted how she used the tool depending on which itch needed scratching.
If it was her back or another broad area that warranted a good scratch, she would use the bristle end. When a softer touch was needed, such as on her sensitive underbelly, she would use the smooth handle end.
“The only well-documented case of something comparable comes from chimpanzees, on those – also rare – occasions when they fish for termites by combining the functions of the two opposite ends of the same stick,” Osuna-Mascaró told BBC Science Focus.
The researchers note that livestock animals have largely been overlooked by behavioural scientists, meaning their perceived lack of intelligence may say more about a lack of observation than about the animals themselves.
“It is important to know that cows have the capacity to innovate in their use of tools and to use them flexibly, because this sends a strong message about how biased we have been regarding cows’ intelligence and their capabilities,” said Osuna-Mascaró.
A much-loved cow
One thing the study was keen to point out is that Veronika isn’t special – her circumstances are.
As a much-loved pet, she has been allowed access to wide-open spaces, daily human interaction and given the freedom to explore and innovate in her environment. At 13, she is also far older than most livestock cows are allowed to become.
Her companion human, Witgar Wiegele, noticed Veronika using tools over ten years ago. The remarkable cow came to the researcher’s attention when they saw a video of her behaviour, and decided they needed to meet Veronika.
The findings suggest that our assumptions about the intelligence of livestock and other animals may not be due to how clever the animals are, but rather whether they have been given the chance to explore their intelligence, and if humans have taken the time to notice.
“We would love to hear from people who have personally seen cattle doing something like this,” said Osuna-Mascaró.
“The key element is this: grabbing a free-moving object and using it as an extension of oneself in order to reach targets that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach.”
Read more:
- This tiny stone tool may have just rewritten human history
- Killer whales filmed using tools for the first time – and scientists are stunned
- Five of Earth’s most innovative animals that use tools
