Smarter than the average cow
This article made me chuckle, and I learned a thing or two. It's an unusual story about Veronika, the Austrian cow, who has scientists scratching their heads with her unique ability.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jan/19/back-scratching-cow-vero...
Slipstream
I can see why scientists would scratch their heads. I scratched mine when I saw the video. It gave me a chuckle too.
Evangel
I want to live there and hang out with the cows. Watching Veronika soothe herself is meditative and healing. I may have to watch that video often.
Bootstrap
Yes.
Well Street
This raises an important ethical question: If it turns out that cows are smarter than previously known, will we feel less inclined to eat them?
I don't eat a lot of beef, but this video has got me thinking.
Evangel
You raise a good point. I guess it depends on how selfish one is or how much they crave meat. But there was a story out of China where two farm workers went out to the herd to bring a cow back to the kill floor...but the cow had knowledge that those who had gone with them before never came back to the herd. So the cow resisted, pulling back, dragging its feet, and crying all along as it was being pulled closer to slaughter. The two men had never experienced this before and realized the cow did not want to die. Suddenly, they felt like killers. They released the cow and quit their jobs that day.
Well Street
That must have been a heartwrenching, yet life-altering experience for those men.
I was recently speaking with someone from India about the country's respect for cows. She said many Indians regard them as higher up on the animal intelligence hierarchy and choose to appreciate them rather than consume them.
Evangel
I can't blame them for thinking that. Cows love music--they seem to have a deep appreciation for it, more so than some people. If they hear music off in the distance, they will walk across a field until they find the source. They stop, settle down, and then listen as if they were at a concert. It's a beautiful thing.
Bootstrap
👍