Evidence now indicates that bovines can be classified among fauna exhibiting intentional tool manipulation, with the capacity to adapt implements for diverse operational requirements.
Through a battery of meticulously orchestrated experimental procedures, a specimen of the Swiss Brown breed of cattle (Bos taurus), identified as Veronika, has exhibited remarkable proficiencies in tool application, showcasing an adaptive behavioral repertoire seldom documented in non-primate species.
“These findings underscore the possibility that prevailing assumptions regarding livestock cognitive capabilities might stem from observational deficiencies rather than inherent intellectual limitations,” observes cognitive biologist Alice Auersperg, affiliated with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in Austria.
The deliberate and adaptable utilization of instruments has long been regarded as a definitive indicator of advanced cognitive function. Historically, within the framework of modern scientific understanding, humanity posited itself as the sole species capable of such actions – a perspective of anthropocentric bias that has since been appropriately tempered by revelations of tool-use capabilities across numerous non-primate groups, including corvids, cetaceans, and insects.
For individuals who have had the opportunity to interact with cattle, it is likely not surprising that considerable complexity lies behind those placid, expressive eyes. Nevertheless, comprehension of their object manipulation strategies to satisfy their own exigencies remains relatively nascent.
Veronika is a domesticated bovine, integrated into the household of Austrian farmer and artisan baker Witgar Wiegele. Mr. Wiegele expresses no astonishment at Veronika’s behavioral patterns; he has observed her manipulating sticks to alleviate bothersome irritations on itchy areas for over a decade.
However, upon viewing a video of this behavior, Auersperg and her university colleague, Antonio Osuna-Mascaró, experienced considerable fascination.
“Upon reviewing the footage, it became unequivocally apparent that this was not an incidental occurrence,” states Auersperg. “This represented a highly significant instance of tool engagement within a species infrequently considered from an analytical cognitive standpoint.”
Consequently, the research team journeyed to observe this extraordinary bovine and devised a structured experimental protocol to ascertain the full extent of her tool-use sophistication.
The investigative task presented was straightforward. Veronika was provided with an asymmetrical object, possessing distinct functionalities at each extremity – specifically, a floor broom characterized by stiff bristles at one end and a handle at the other.
The researchers hypothesized that Veronika would consistently employ the broom’s bristle end for a specific purpose: to alleviate pruritus in difficult-to-reach locations. Such a behavioral pattern would signify intentionality; Veronika would have discerned the broom’s utility and subsequently applied it to her needs repeatedly.
Over the course of seven experimental phases, each comprising ten individual trials, resulting in a total of seventy observations, the two scientists presented Veronika with the broom in a series of randomized orientations.
The bovine successfully utilized the broom for scratching an inaccessible itchy spot on 76 occasions. However, her performance not only met but dramatically exceeded the initial expectations.
She indeed deployed the brush end of the broom for tactile relief, yet she also adeptly employed the handle end. The choice of which object extremity to utilize was contingent upon the sensitivity of the targeted cutaneous area. Her dorsal and lateral regions, possessing thicker integument, were addressed with the bristles; conversely, the more delicate skin of her ventral area, udder, and posterior regions were amenable to manipulation with the handle.
Furthermore, her methodological approach to employing the broom exhibited contextual sensitivity. Broader, less precise movements were employed when using the brush component, whereas more refined, deliberate manipulations were executed with the handle.
“Given that she is applying the implement to her own person, this constitutes a form of egocentric tool utilization, which is generally considered less cognitively demanding than tool use directed towards external entities,” notes Osuna-Mascaró.
“Concurrently, she confronts significant physical impediments, as she is compelled to manipulate the tools via her oral aperture. The remarkable aspect lies in her compensatory strategies for these limitations, her prescience regarding the consequences of her actions, and her resultant adjustments in grip and motion.”
The capacity to leverage distinct attributes of an implement for disparate functions is termed multipurpose tool use, an ability that is exceptionally rare in wild populations. The researchers assert that – excluding humans – only chimpanzees have been consistently documented as exhibiting this trait. However, this does not preclude its existence in other mammalian species.
The investigative team posits that Veronika’s unique circumstances may have fostered her acquired skills. She is approximately 13 years of age; the majority of cattle residing in proximity to human settlements do not attain this lifespan, predominantly engage with conspecifics within highly structured environments, are infrequently subjected to detailed observation, and are rarely provided with a diverse array of objects for interaction or play.
“We surmise that this capability might be more prevalent than currently recorded,” states Osuna-Mascaró. “We extend an invitation to any readers who have witnessed cows or bulls employing sticks or other handheld articles for deliberate purposes to establish contact with us.”
