A Brazilian Nelore cow named Viatina-19 FIV Mara Movéis has set a new record as the world’s most expensive cow sold at auction, valued at $4 million (approximately Ksh.517 million), according to Guinness World Records.
This snow-white cow, weighing 1,100 kilograms, has become a highly prized asset in Brazil’s meat industry due to its exceptional muscle growth rate, fertility, and ability to pass down desirable traits to its offspring.
Viatina-19 is closely monitored by security cameras, an armed guard, and a veterinarian to ensure her safety and well-being. Her veterinarian, Lorrany Martins, highlighted the cow’s near-perfect characteristics, which are highly sought after by livestock proprietors. The process of achieving such desirable traits involves extracting eggs and semen from champion animals to create embryos, which are then implanted in surrogate cows.
The cow’s egg cells are also sold for a hefty price of $250,000 (approximately Ksh.32 million) to those interested in her superior genetics. Key attributes that make similar cows attractive for bidding include their posture, hoof solidity, docility, maternal ability, and overall beauty.