Overview
- A study in Current Biology details how Veronika, a 13-year-old Swiss Brown in Austria, used sticks and a deck brush to scratch areas she could not otherwise reach.
- Across seven sessions and 70 randomized trials, she chose the bristled end for thick-skinned upper regions and the smooth handle for sensitive lower areas.
- Researchers documented context-dependent techniques and mouth-based grip adjustments, fulfilling criteria for intentional, egocentric and flexible multi-purpose tool use.
- This represents the first confirmed instance of tool use in cattle and challenges assumptions about the cognitive capacities of livestock.
- Noting her pet status, long lifespan and enriched environment, the researchers are inviting public submissions of comparable cases to examine prevalence and drivers.