While tales of the “most expensive chicken” have intrigued us in the past, today we unveil a bovine phenomenon that has taken the world by storm – the most expensive cow! In an exclusive report by Newsweek, we discover the astonishing existence of a bovine marvel belonging to the highly sought-after Nilori breed, shattering all previous records.
In a recent auction that sent shockwaves through the bovine industry, a remarkable four-and-a-half-year-old cow of the prestigious Nilori breed commanded an astronomical price. A whopping 6.99 million Brazilian riyals, equivalent to an astounding $1.44 million, exchanged hands as a third of this prized cow’s ownership was sold. This remarkable transaction places the total value of the cow at an unprecedented $4.3 million.
It is worth mentioning that this remarkable bovine specimen already etched its name in history when half of its ownership was sold in 2022 for an astonishing $800,000, setting an unbeaten record at the time. The recent auction price signifies a remarkable escalation in the value of this coveted Nilori breed.
According to the American “Oklahoma State University”, the “Neluri” breed of cows is distinguished by its bright white color, with a bulging hump over its shoulders, and it has a naturally high resistance to high temperatures, thanks to its loose, hanging skin, and its possession of 30% larger sweat glands than those present. in many European breeds.
This strain originated in India and was named after the Indian Nellore region in the state of Andhra Pradesh, but it is now considered one of the most important strains in Brazil, mainly due to its hardiness and ability to grow on poor-quality fodder, because it has an effective nutritional representation. Cows of this breed reproduce easily and have effective resistance to a number of parasitic infections, due to their thick skin texture, which makes it difficult for blood-sucking insects to penetrate.
The high price of the Nellore breed of cows is a result of these characteristics, as they are selectively bred to enhance these traits using artificial insemination.
Sales of semen from this strain represent 65% of the total artificial insemination market for cows in Brazil.
There are approximately 167 million Nillori cows in Brazil, which constitutes 80% of the total number of cows across the country.
