Research published in the journal Current Biology has documented what scientists say is the first recorded case of a cow using tools, suggesting that cattle may possess more advanced cognitive abilities than previously recognised.

The study focuses on a Swiss brown cow named Veronika, who lives in a mountain village in the Austrian countryside. Researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna observed that Veronika has spent several years using objects such as sticks, rakes and brooms to scratch herself, says the BBC.

According to the researchers, Veronika demonstrated consistent and purposeful tool use, selecting different parts of the same object depending on her physical needs. She used the bristle end of a broom to scratch tougher areas such as her back, while switching to the smooth handle end when scratching more sensitive areas like her underbelly.

Scientists said this form of multipurpose tool use is rare in the animal kingdom and had not previously been documented in cattle, despite around 10,000 years of close coexistence between humans and cows. Comparable behaviour has mainly been observed in chimpanzees, which use tools such as sticks to collect insects and stones to crack nuts.

The researchers said Veronika’s behaviour suggests a level of physical self-awareness and problem-solving ability that challenges long-held assumptions about bovine intelligence. They added that her actions indicate cattle may have latent cognitive potential that has not been widely recognised.

Veronika’s owner, organic farmer Witgar Wiegele, said he hoped the findings would encourage greater appreciation of biodiversity, which he described as “the key to survive on this planet”.

The study’s authors concluded that cattle cognition may be more complex than the traditional view of cows as simple farm animals, and that other cattle could develop similar abilities if given suitable environments and opportunities.