WINSTON WEEKLY

September 20, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 38

THE CLEVER COW[1]

Veronika is yet again proof that one should never underestimate a cow! Using a broom to groom has upended centuries of history and studies and turned cow cognition on its head. So much so that after a team from Vienna, Austria’s University of Veterinary Medicine conducted controlled trials on the teenage cow, they published their findings in Current Biology earlier this year.

Regarding Veronika’s use of a deck scrub broom, the authors wrote, “The observed grip switches suggest action anticipation; features associated with innovative tool use in primates and corvids. Importantly, the differential use of both broom ends constitutes use of a multipurpose tool, exploiting distinct properties of a single object for different functions.” The article concludes, “Perhaps the real absurdity lies in not imagining a tool-using cow, but in assuming such a thing could never exist.”

There is much more to Veronika’s story, including her owner, Witgar Wiegele, and the Austrian village of Carinthia. Witgar is an organic farmer and baker who has long-admired Veronika’s contentment and cleverness. Located near the idyllic Australian town of Nötsch im Gailtal by the Italian border, Nötsch im Gailtal is a small market town known as the first official “Slow Food Travel destination.” For those not familiar with such a destination, local farmers, bakers, cheesemakers, and brewers collaborate to maintain and enhance traditional food practices. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys, there is plenty to eat and explore in and around the area.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

See how many other clever animals you can find who are known to use tools or explore the history of Austria’s small towns or Swiss cows. Nicholas Parson’s book, The Shortest History of Austria, is the perfect starting point for resources on Austrian history and culture. For those fluent in German, check out Andreas C. Studer’s 2012 book, My Swiss Cows. The third edition of Animal Tool Behavior by Robert W. Schumaker and others was released by Johns Hopkins University Press on Dec. 10, 2024.

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[1] Winston Weekly is a weekly blog and newsletter by Alysen Bayles of Bayles Connect: “Learn, live, love, read.” Resources: Antonio J. Usuna-Mascaro, Alice M.I. Auerberg, Flexible use of a multi-purpose tool by a cow, Current Biology, Vol. 36, Issue 2, PR 44-45. Jan. 19, 2026; Laura Baisas, Veronika the Cow shocks scientists by using a tool, Popular Science, Jan. 19, 2026. YouTube, Associated Press, Meet Veronika, the clever cow using a broom to scratch an itch, Jan. 26, 2026; Geroge C, Senior Editor, The Wanders, Nötsch im Gailtal: Europe’s Slow Food Pioneer.