Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows

[cbabe]

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jan/19/back-scratching-cow-veronika-bovine-intelligence

Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows

Brown Swiss in Austria has been discovered using tools in different ways – something only ever seen in humans and chimpanzees

Ian Sample Science editor
Mon 19 Jan 2026 11.00 EST

Scientists have been forced to rethink the intelligence of cattle after an Austrian cow named Veronika displayed an impressive – and until now undocumented – knack for tool use.

Witgar Wiegele, an organic farmer and baker from a small town in Carinthia near the Italian border, keeps Veronika as a pet and noticed that she occasionally played with sticks and used them to scratch her body.

Wiegele, who said Veronika recognised family members’ voices and hurried to meet them when they called, began playing with pieces of wood years ago, then worked out how to scratch herself with sticks.

“I was naturally amazed by her extraordinary intelligence and thought how much we could learn from animals: patience, calmness, contentment, and gentleness,” he said.



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[Coventina]

1. That's one of many reasons why I don't eat them.

Go vegetarian!!

[efhmc]

2. Whatever. My horses used/uses trees and whatever for scratching. The cattle use anything including solar posts which

they then knock down.

[cbabe]

3. The cow is choosing and using sticks, not back scratching on

trees and such.

[riversedge]

4. We had a few dairy cows --that when they got out of their fences, they

used to go back and forth under the side poles of our swing set to scratch their backs. Us kids
just let them do it--then dad would be yelling --get those cows back into their yard or you will be shoveling up the poop!!

Oh the joys of being a kid!!

[BaronChocula]

5. Just had a vision of Charlton Heston

returning to Earth only to be imprisoned by cows.

[JHB]

6. Everybody likes scratchies

[Roy Rolling]

7. Cows are very intelligent

Prove me wrong.

I would have one as a pet if physically and ethically able. I’ve visited dairy farm cows and they are eerily smart—I wonder what they’re up to. Are they conspiring with whales for a global action?

Count me in. fistbump: 🐄

[cbabe]

8. Cows with guns

https://m.

[Torchlight]

9. Smarter than most potatoes I've mashed

if not all that I've mashed.