Cows are smarter than we thought: they can use tools (and scratch themselves with a stick) A study by Austrian researchers, analyzing social media footage, has uncovered surprising evidence of tool use in cattle. A video shows a Braunvieh cow named Veronika scratching herself with a stick, an instance of tool use, a skill previously unknown in cows. The researchers suggest this ability may be an ancient predisposition embedded in the cattle lineage. While Veronika’s case does not prove all cows use tools, it indicates cattle may possess the necessary cognitive abilities. Researchers are now seeking more examples of exceptional farm animal intelligence for further study. They encourage people to report any remarkable intellectual behavior observed in cows, pigs, sheep, or other farm animals.