Sold at a whopping $4.8 Million at a Brazil auction, the cow also holds the beauty pageant title of ‘Miss South America’. The news has left the Internet baffled and here’s the tea.
Meet Viatina-19, a 53-month-old Indian-origin cow, who has set a world record for being the most expensive cow in the world. She has also secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2024 for being the most expensive cattle ever sold. Among the most expensive cows are the Wagyu from Japan and the Brahman cows from India. The Nelore breed cow was auctioned in Brazil and was sold for $4.8 Million (INR crore) and has since become the talk of the town. Besides being a record-holder, Viatina-19 is also a beauty queen! She has won the title of ‘Miss South America’ at a Miss Universe-style competition for cattle held in Texas.
Renowned for her unmatched genetics and muscular build, Viatina-19 reportedly impressed the judges by weighing around 1,101 kg, twice the average of a typical adult of her breed. She stands out for her distinct features including her noticeable white fur, her loose skin, and a signature hum on her shoulders. These physical traits are not just for aesthetics but are equally vital for her survival. The hump stores fat to provide energy during food scarcity, the loose skin helps dissipate the heat in extreme climates, and the muscular build makes her highly valuable in the livestock industry. The high value of the Nelore breed is credited to its adaptability, especially to tropical climates. The breed is also highly resistant to diseases Her exceptional muscle structure and rare genetic lineage even contributed to her victory in the ‘Champion of the World’ beauty pageant.
The Nelore breed, to which Viatina-19 belongs, is also known as the Ongole breed. It was first brought to Brazil in the 1800s and today, Brazil is the largest breeder of Nelore cattle in the world. Speaking about Viatina-19, a veterinarian said, “She’s a complete cow and has all the characteristics that proprietors are looking for”. Reports suggest that her muscular breed originates from Andhra Pradesh in India, and was first introduced around 2,000 years BC. Viatina-19 is a great example of excellent cattle breeding and her characteristics make her an invaluable asset in the cattle business. Even her lineage will be helpful in the future when her eggs and calves are sold globally. This will benefit the future of cattle breeding.
