Austrian Cow Veronika Uses Broom and Sticks, Providing First Documented Tool Use by a Pet Cow
Veronika, a cow in Austria, repeatedly used a broom to scratch unreachable areas, marking the first documented instance of tool use by a pet cow.
CNNResearchers identify tool use in a pet cow, indicating livestock might be smarter than thought
ARS TechnicaMeet Veronika, the tool-using cow
The GuardianBack-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Scientific AmericanMeet Veronika, the first cow known to engage in flexible, multipurpose tool use
Overview
Who: Veronika, a Swiss Brown cow on an Austrian farm, repeatedly used objects to relieve discomfort, surprising observers because cows are rarely reported using tools.
What: She used sticks and a broom—most notably a broom used 76 times across seven sessions—to scratch hard-to-reach rear areas, demonstrating consistent tool adoption.
Where and when: Observations occurred in Austria across seven recorded sessions, during which caretakers documented Veronika's repeated broom use to relieve insect-related skin irritation.
How: By positioning and using sticks and a broom to reach otherwise inaccessible parts of her body, Veronika showed intentional, repeatable tool-directed behavior.
Why it matters: This first documented case of tool use in a pet cow expands knowledge of animal cognition and challenges assumptions that consistent tool use is largely limited to primates.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the story of Veronika, the tool-using cow, in a neutral manner. The reporting focuses on factual descriptions of Veronika's behavior and the scientific implications without using loaded language or selective emphasis. The article provides a balanced view by including expert opinions and historical context on animal tool use, supporting the neutrality of the coverage.