Flexible use of a multi-purpose tool by a cow
2026/01/01 by Antonio J. Osuna‐Mascaró, Alice M.I. Auersperg · 6 voices · 3 citations
Psychology · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Veterinary · #Primate Behavior and Ecology #Human-Animal Interaction Studies #Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
paper · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.11.059
Abstract
. We report here our experimental demonstration of flexible egocentric tooling in a pet cow (Bos taurus), Veronika, who uses a deck brush to self-scratch. Across randomized trials, she preferred the bristled end but switched to the stick end when targeting softer lower-body areas. This adaptive deployment of tool features reveals multi-purpose tool use not previously reported in non-primate mammals. Our findings broaden the taxonomic scope of flexible tool use and invite a reassessment of livestock cognition. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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- You can read the study here. It is published open access in my favorite scientific journal, @currentbiology.bsky.social (paper) doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... [bsky, 122 points, 2 comments]
- Flexible use of a multi-purpose tool by a cow [hn, 89 points, 15 comments]
- Strongly recommend you watch the video Abstract for this @currentbiology.bsky.social paper about Veronika the tool-using cow 🐮🧹 The last 30 seconds is particularly heart-warming. doi.org/10.1016/j.c [bsky, 4 points, 1 comments]
- Kühe können #Werkzeuge benutzen: In Wissenschaft wie Kultur werden #Nutztiere oft kognitiv unterschätzt. Verstärkt wird dies durch ihre utilitaristische Rolle und die Verdrängung ihrer kognitiver Fähi [bsky, 2 points, 1 comments]
- Flexible use of a multi-purpose tool by a cow https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.11.059 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.11.059 ウシはあまり賢くないと思われがちですが、それは思い込みかもしれません。 ペットのウシがブラシを道具として使い、体の場所に合わせて使い方を変えました。 この発見は、家畜の知能を見直すきっかけになります。 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
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