The World's Most Expensive 'White Cow' Is Born... What Is Its Price?

33% Stake Auction Winning Price Equivalent to 5.7 Billion KRW
High Valuation Due to 'Breed Improvement Genetic Information'

The most expensive cow in the world was born in Brazil.

Viatina-19 of the Neror variety, with 33% ownership sold for approximately 1.9 billion KRW at a Brazilian auction.
[Photo by Instagram capture]

According to foreign media including the American weekly Newsweek, a cow named 'Viathina-19,' of the Nelore breed, was auctioned on the 29th of last month (local time) in Arandu, Brazil.

The auctioned share of the cow was 33%. This 33% stake was sold for 6.99 million Brazilian reais (approximately 1.9 billion Korean won).

With the emergence of a new owner in this auction, the total number of owners holding shares of the cow became three, including corporations. Before the auction, the owners were the livestock companies Casablanca Agropastoral and Agropecuaria Napemo, each holding 50% of the shares.

Based on the auction price, purchasing 100% of Viathina-19’s shares would require 21 million Brazilian reais, which is about 5.73 billion Korean won.

Viathina-19 had already attracted attention in 2022 for its enormous value. Its owner, Silvestre Coelho, auctioned off a 50% stake, which was sold for a record high price of 4 million Brazilian reais (approximately 1.09 billion Korean won) at that time.

Moreover, Viathina-19 won a gold medal at a competition for selecting superior cattle at 8 months old, raising expectations that it would become the best cow in Brazil.

At that time, owner Silvestre Coelho praised, "I knew Viathina-19 would be a great cow from the moment it was born," adding, "Although it was a newborn calf, its skeleton was different and it had a majestic presence."

The reason for such a high price is... "Because of genetic information for breed improvement"

Viatina-19 of the Neror variety, with 33% ownership sold for approximately 1.9 billion KRW at a Brazilian auction.
[Photo by Instagram capture]

The reason Viathina-19’s value soared so high is due to the genetic information used for breed improvement.

The Nelore cattle breed originated from India and is named after Nellore in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This breed is characterized by bright white hair and a distinct hump shaped like a bulb above the shoulders.

According to research from Oklahoma State University, Nelore cattle have naturally strong heat resistance due to loose skin, twice the size, and 30% more sweat glands compared to European breeds. Their thick skin also provides high resistance to blood-sucking insects and parasites.

This breed is currently one of the most important in Brazil. Thanks to its health and efficient metabolism, it can grow well even when fed low-quality feed.

Additionally, females have wide pelvises and large birth canals, making reproduction easier. It is said that calves require almost no human intervention during growth.

Because of this, Nelore cattle semen is also traded at high prices. In 2018, semen from the best bulls was reportedly sold at $5,000 (about 6.6 million Korean won) per 0.55 ml. In Brazil, the sale of Nelore cattle semen accounts for 65% of the entire artificial insemination market for cattle semen.

There are approximately 167 million Nelore cattle in Brazil, accounting for 80% of the country’s total cattle population.

With the number of shareholders of this cow increasing to three, the livestock company Casa Branca Agropastoral, which holds shares, stated, "Using Viathina-19’s genetics to develop better breeds is a fantastic project," adding, "Having a new partner in this project makes it even more fantastic."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.