There are many people in this world who adore cows. When thinking of our love for cows, most people equate it to their adorable features. Afterall, they are like giant dogs in a way, fluffy, kind, and adorable. However, when thinking of these creatures, not many people equate them with intelligence. Well, after witnessing this cow showing off her new skill, people may now begin questioning that narrative.
Cow Showed Off New Skill, Shocking Scientists
Getty Images
When imagining intelligent animals, many people think of primates. Other creatures that may come to mind may be apex predators such as wolves or orcas, who work in groups. There are even interesting brainiac bird species that show their brain power. One of the attributes that usually equates to intelligence is the ability to use tools. Naturally, we are not accustomed to seeing farm animals utilize implements in this way. However, Veronika the cow may have just proved us all wrong.
The NY Post shared that "A brown cow named Veronika was documented using tools with impressive skill for the first time ever." A study published in the Journal of Current Biology dug deeper into this impressive episode. So, what was this cow's new skill? It was the ability to give herself a massage! That's right, Veronika was caught using sticks to scratch those hard-to-reach spots on her body. A photo of the cow using her new skill showed her using the handle of a broom to scratch a particularly hard-to-reach spot on her underbelly.
What This Means
While the average individual may just find this to be an adorable Instagram-worthy moment, scientists see it as a bit more. When speaking to Science Alert, cognitive biologist Alice Auersperg shared that this new finding could highlight that " how assumptions about livestock intelligence may reflect gaps in observation rather than genuine cognitive limits." Basically, implying that the reason we have not seen livestock exhibit these skills is simply that we have not been paying close enough attention.
Proof of that point is that Veronika's owner has seen the cow show off her special skill for more than a decade. That repeated use of this skill shows that it is not accidental and that this animal is intentionally using this tool in a manner to solve an issue. Scientists observed the bovine through a series of trials, trials which proved her intelligence. This cow even chose to use specific tools for specific parts of her body. For example, the Post shared that she would use a "deck brush" to " itch herself, finding that she used it exclusively to scratch her rump, loin, udder, and other regions that were hard to access with her mouth."
However, she would switch up her technique depending on the area of her body. She would utilize "broader strokes for the bristled end and more precise, smoother motions with the handle." She really is one smart gal.
