Tag Archives: Cow

Groundbreaking Moment: First-Ever Photos of a Cow Using Tools Leave Scientists Amazed

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In a picturesque mountain pasture in Austria, a remarkably intelligent cow is reshaping our understanding of animal cognition.

Meet Veronica, a pet Swiss brown cow who has innovatively learned to use both ends of a stick to scratch her back. This impressive tool use is exceedingly rare in the animal kingdom and has never been documented in cattle before.

Dr. Antonio Osuna Mascaro, a professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, led the groundbreaking study published in Current Biology. The research highlights how Veronica creatively utilizes available tools to scratch herself.

Initially, researchers provided her with a broom brush, expecting her to only use the bristles. However, Veronica adapted her tool use based on the specific itch needing relief.

For larger or more intense itches on her back, she utilized the bristled end of the brush. Conversely, for lighter itches, such as on her sensitive lower abdomen, she opted for the smooth handle end.

https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2026/01/Veronika-edit-1.mp4
Veronica skillfully adjusts her scratching technique based on the area of discomfort.

“The only well-documented occurrence similar to this was when a chimpanzee cleverly manipulated the ends of a stick to forage for termites,” Osuna Mascaro stated, as reported by BBC Science Focus.

Researchers emphasize that domestic animals have often been overlooked by behavioral scientists, meaning their perceived lack of intelligence may stem more from insufficient observation than from the animals’ actual capabilities.

“Understanding that cows possess the ability to innovate and use tools flexibly sends a powerful message about our biases regarding cow intelligence and capabilities,” Osuna Mascaro added.

Osuna Mascaro (left) shared that Veronica (right) is affectionate and cherished by her human family. – Credit: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró

Veronica: The Beloved Cow

The study emphasizes that while Veronica is unique, her intelligent behavior is not an isolated case.

As a cherished pet, Veronica enjoys access to open spaces, daily human engagement, and the freedom to explore her environment. At 13 years old, she is significantly older than the average domestic cow.

Her human companion, Witger Vigele, first observed Veronica using tools over a decade ago. Intrigued by her intelligence, researchers analyzed footage of her behavior and decided to meet this extraordinary cow.

Researchers urge everyone to appreciate intelligent cows like Veronica – Credit: AJ Osuna-Mascaró

The findings suggest that our perceptions of domestic animals’ intelligence may not relate to their actual abilities, but rather to the opportunities they are given to demonstrate their intelligence and whether we take the time to observe them.

“I would love to hear from anyone who has witnessed cows displaying similar behaviors firsthand,” Osuna Mascaro expressed.

“The key element is using an object dynamically to achieve goals that would be otherwise difficult or impossible,” he concluded.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Sea Cow Populations Have Shaped the Arabian Gulf Seagrass Ecosystem for Over 20 Million Years

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Paleontologists have discovered a significant concentration of dugong fossils at Al Masjabiya, an early Miocene dam site in Qatar. These fossils indicate that the Arabian Gulf has undergone various species of sea cows over the past 20 million years. One of these species is Salvacillen catalensis.

An artistic rendering of a group of Salvacillen catalensis foraging on the ocean floor. Image credit: Alex Boersma.

It has a robust body and a downturned snout adorned with sensitive bristles. Dugongs (dugong dugong) are closely related to manatees.

A key distinction between these aquatic herbivores, often referred to as sea cows, is their tails. Manatees possess a paddle-like tail, whereas dugongs feature a fluke-like tail that resembles that of a dolphin.

Dugongs inhabit coastal waters stretching from western Africa through the Indo-Pacific to northern Australia.

The Arabian Gulf hosts the world’s largest dugong population, making sea cows critical to the ecosystem.

As they graze on seagrass, dugongs alter the ocean floor, creating feeding channels that release buried nutrients into the surrounding waters for use by other marine life.

“We uncovered a distant ancestor of the dugong in a rock formation less than 16 kilometers (10 miles) from a bay with seagrass meadows, which is currently the primary habitat for dugongs,” stated Dr. Nicholas Pienson, curator of fossil marine mammals at the National Museum of Natural History.

“This region has served as the main habitat for sea cows for the past 21 million years, with different species occupying this role over time.”

Few locations preserve as many bones as Al Masjabiya, a fossil site in southwestern Qatar.

The bone beds were initially identified in the 1970s during mining and oil exploration, when geologists found a large number of “reptilian” bones scattered across the desert.

Paleontologists revisited the area in the early 2000s and soon realized that these fossils belonged to sea cows, not ancient reptiles.

Using the surrounding rock layers as a guide, Dr. Pienson and his team dated the bone bed to the early Miocene, approximately 21 million years ago.

They found fossils indicating that this area was once a shallow marine habitat teeming with sharks, barracuda-like fish, prehistoric dolphins, and sea turtles.

Researchers identified over 170 different sites containing sea cow fossils throughout the Al Masjabiya location.

This renders the bone bed the richest trove of fossilized sea cow remains globally.

The fossilized bones from Al Masjabiya bore a resemblance to modern dugongs, although ancient sea cows still had hind limb bones, which contemporary dugongs and manatees have lost through evolution.

The prehistoric sea cows found here exhibited straighter snouts and smaller tusks compared to their living counterparts.

Researchers classified Al Masjabiya’s fossil sea cow as a new species: Salvacillen catalensis.

“Using a national name for this species seemed fitting, as it clearly indicates the location where the fossil was discovered,” said Dr. Ferhan Sakal, a researcher at Qatar Museums.

Estimated weight: 113 kg (250 lbs), Salvacillen catalensis would weigh as much as an adult panda or a heavyweight boxer.

Nonetheless, it was among the smaller sea cow species ever found, with some modern dugongs weighing nearly eight times as much as Salvacillen catalensis.

Based on the fossils, scientists theorize that the region was rich in seagrass beds more than 20 million years ago, during an era when the bay was a hotspot of biodiversity, supported by sea cows nurturing these aquatic meadows.

“The density of al-Mashabiya’s bone bed provides a significant clue. Salvacillen catalensis acted as seagrass ecosystem engineers in the early Miocene, much like dugongs do today,” Dr. Pienson added.

“Though the evolutionary agents have completely changed, the ecological roles have remained the same.”

The findings are documented in a published paper available at: Peer J.

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ND Pienson et al., 2025. The abundance of early Miocene sea cows from Qatar demonstrates the repeated evolution of eastern Tethyan seagrass ecosystem engineers. Peer J 13: e20030; doi: 10.7717/peerj.20030

Source: www.sci.news

Neolithic Cow Teeth Provide Evidence for the Welsh Origins of Stonehenge Stones

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Researchers from University College London and other institutions have analyzed the molars of female Boss Torus (cattle) discovered at Stonehenge.

Stonehenge. Image credit: Regina Wolf.

In 1924, archaeologists restored the jawbone of an elderly cow found at the base of the groove surrounding Stonehenge Stage 1, constructed between 2995 and 2900 BC.

Professor Michael Parker Pearson from University College London and his team dated the find between 3350 and 2920 BC through isotopic analysis of a tooth, suggesting its origins in Wales.

“This offers even more intriguing evidence of Stonehenge’s connection to Southwest Wales, the source of Bluestone,” noted Professor Parker Pearson.

“It heightens the likelihood that these cows assisted in transporting the stones.”

Researchers recorded chemical signals from the second year of the animal’s life and sectioned its third molar into nine horizontal slices.

This enabled them to measure isotopes of carbon, oxygen, strontium, and lead, each shedding light on the cow’s diet, environment, and movements.

The varying concentrations and types found in the teeth offered insights into the cattle’s lifestyle.

Oxygen isotopes indicated that the teeth recorded about six months of growth spanning winter to summer, while carbon isotopes revealed seasonal dietary changes: forest feed in winter and pasture in summer.

Moreover, strontium isotopes suggested that these seasonal food sources came from different geological regions, implying that the cattle may have moved seasonally or that winter feed was transported.

Lead isotopes indicated a spike in composition between late winter and spring, suggesting older lead sources than the other dental leads.

The findings imply that the cattle originated from much older Paleozoic rock formations in the Pleshri hills of Pembrokeshire, Wales.

“This research revealed six months of unprecedented details about the life of this cow, presenting the first evidence of cattle movements from Wales and documenting dietary shifts and life events from around 5,000 years ago,” remarked Professor Jane Evans, an archaeologist at the National Environmental Isotope Facility at the British Geological Survey.

“One slice of cow tooth has conveyed an extraordinary narrative. I am hopeful that more revelations will emerge from her extensive journey as new scientific tools become available.”

Additionally, scientists concluded that unusual lead signals could not be attributed solely to local contamination or movement.

Rather, this lead, retained in the cow’s bones, was regenerating during the stress of pregnancy.

If accurate, this indicates that the cow was female during the formation of the teeth and was either pregnant or breastfeeding.

To validate this hypothesis, the authors employed peptide-based sex determination techniques, suggesting that the animal was likely a female.

“This study offers significant new insights into the life history of this enigmatic cow, whose remains were deposited at such a pivotal location at the entrance to Stonehenge,” said Professor Richard Majwick of Cardiff University.

“It provides unparalleled details regarding the animal’s distant origins and the arduous journey it undertook.”

“Often, grand narratives dominate research on major archaeological sites, but this detailed biographical examination of individual animals brings a fresh perspective to Stonehenge’s story.”

The team’s findings were published on June 17th, 2025, in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

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J. Evans et al. 2025 Boss Torus Evaluating the comparative sources and uptake times of teeth, strontium and lead from Stonehenge. Journal of Archaeological Science 180:106269; doi:10.1016/j.jas.2025.106269

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient geese reached the height of three meters and weighed as much as a cow

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Artistic reconstruction of Genyornis newtoni, an ancient relative of the goose

Illustration by Jacob C. Blokland

Australia's prehistoric ptarmigan, once thought to be an ancestor of the emu, was actually the largest goose that ever lived.

This group was reclassified based on analysis going back 45,000 years. Genyornis neutoni The skull was found in the fossil deposits of Lake Carabonna in the South Australian desert.

The newly discovered skull is the first of the extinct species to be discovered since 1913, and the only one well-preserved enough to allow detailed anatomical study. G. Newton He weighed approximately 230 kilograms and was over 2.5 metres tall.

However, its close relativesDromornis stiltoniAt well over three metres tall and weighing up to 600 kilograms, it is not only a contender for the largest bird in history, but also the largest goose ever.

When Thunderbird fossils were first discovered in the 19th century, they were thought to be ancestors of ratites, which include emus, cassowaries and ostriches. Later, some argued that the group, officially called Dromornithiidae, with eight known species, should be classified with land birds, which also include chickens and pheasants.

now, Phoebe McInerney Researchers from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, concluded that the Thunderbird is a large waterbird and should be classified as part of the Anseriformes, the same group as geese.

The team was primarily convinced by the anatomy of the beak and skull, including the arrangement of muscles and the deformation of the bones to which they were attached. Genyornis The structure is nearly identical to that of South American screamers, an ancient lineage of waterbirds, and is so complex that it's unlikely it evolved independently, McInerney said.

Artistic reconstruction of the skull of Geniornis newtoni based on fossil data

Illustration by Jacob C. Blokland

All of the ptarmigans were herbivores, she says, but they were probably fierce creatures. “They would have been very tough animals,” McInerney says. “They could defend themselves and they would have been quite formidable beasts. They would have had a very low, loud cry.”

Adam Yates Yates, of the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery in Australia, said the study supports the claims of his predecessor, Peter Murray, who proposed in the early 1990s that the Thunderbird was a waterbird. “So it's not a shock to me,” Yates said. “But Genyornis It took so long to find the skull, so we're very happy that it has finally been found.”

Many Thunderbird species became extinct before humans arrived in Australia around 65,000 years ago, which is thought to have been due to climate change.G. Newtoni Humans had inhabited the continent for tens of thousands of years, and some researchers speculate that hunting may have also played a role in their extinction.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Valley Investors Achieve Unusual Goal in Battle Against Methane: Cow Burps

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What do iconic Valley investors Zachary Bogue and Chris Sacca have in common? They’re both trying to stop cows from burping methane. No, really. And Soccer Investments has just raised $20 million to do just that. What gives?

With the conclusion of COP28, the global conference on the climate crisis, methane is on the ClimateTech agenda for investors and startups.

Emissions from livestock are the main source of agricultural methane, accounting for about one-third of all methane. emissions, and most of them aren’t from the parts of the cow you’d expect. In fact, it is from cow burp.

When cows process their feed, they literally exhale methane gas as part of their rumination process, allowing them to digest grass and hay that other animals, including us, cannot.

And it’s these emissions that agritech and biotech companies are now starting to target. There is a lot of pressure to do so. In fact, six major companies in the dairy industry recently pledged The company plans to start disclosing its methane emissions, and other companies are expected to join the plan. And one of the bigger topics at his recent COP meeting was a promise to reduce methane emissions. is growing rapidly.

Methane gas is by far the worst of all greenhouse gases, and like methane it is much worse than CO2. trap more heat The amount per molecule in the atmosphere is greater than carbon dioxide.

This gas stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years, whereas carbon dioxide lasts for hundreds of years, but over 20 years it is about 80 times more heating than carbon dioxide, and over 100 years it is 27 times more heating. according to to the Expert Panel on Livestock Methane in 2023.

Its reduction is therefore considered key to fighting the climate crisis. In fact, there is even a satellite-based “Methane Alert and Response System” (MARS). announced by the United Nations last year.

And a major UN report says “urgent measures” are needed to reduce methane to keep global warming within limits. manageable limit.

British companies now think they can tackle this problem.

British biotech startup Mootral Raised $20 million in Series B funding round backed by Menlo Park-based climate investors king philanthropiesalongside existing investors Lowercarbon Capital (a climate VC started by Chris Sacca), Earthshot Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Third Derivative, Climactic, and Climate Capital.

In total, Mootral raised $48.9 million. This number corresponds to the $11.2 million seed round. Series A for $12.8 million (led by King Philanthropies, which invested $10 million). This Series B is worth $20 million. Family office investment by Thomas Hafner and Karin Boimer is $24.9 million.

Mootral said in a statement that it aims to scale up to feeding 300 million cows with its feed additives by 2033, with the potential to achieve up to 50 percent methane reductions by 2025. This is quite a claim.

“We aim to immediately and permanently reduce methane emissions, and this is happening on farms today,” Mootral founder and CEO Thomas Hafner said by phone. Ta.

“The next generation of products will need to be on the milligram scale. Our next generation will be even better. We aim to reduce it by up to 90%.”

Mootral also has a scheme called ‘CowCredits’ which allows farmers to access the carbon credit market when reducing their herd’s methane emissions. ClimatePartner, a company that funds climate change projects through carbon credits, has signed on to include his Mootral in its portfolio of options for Crent.

The company says its Enterix product (manufactured in Wales) has been tested on farms in the UK, and the results have been published in academic journals, including the Journal. Open Journal of Animal Science, Frontiers of microbiology, animal science journaland translational animal science.

So how does it work? Dairy cows produce about 500 liters of methane every day. 3.7 tons of CO2 equivalent per year. Mootral says its current ruminant supplement can reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by up to 38 percent on commercial farms.

One of its competitors is CH4 Global It raised $29 million in its latest funding round. CH4 Global — backed by the aforementioned Zachary Bogue of DCVC — seaweed It is added to cattle feed to reduce methane emissions.

CH4 Global CEO Steve Mellor said in an email that the company is using “aquaculture” to address the problem. Global agricultural company to supply 9.5 million head of cattle is announced. Combining these two will result in approximately 80 million tons of CO2-e reductions. ”

He claims that CH4 Global’s line of feed additives (called Methane Tamer) contains Asparagopsis, which the company claims can reduce methane emissions from cows by as much as 90%. did.

The other player in that space is DSM, a Dutch multinational companyWhich recently It said it would monitor the environmental impact of foods containing animal protein.

In any case, it is clear that the climate tech sector is intersecting with agricultural technology in unexpected ways in the fight against the climate crisis.

Source: techcrunch.com