A cow in Brazil with an Indian lineage has achieved the Guinness World Record for being the world's most expensive cattle.
Named as Vietina-19, the cow was sold for an eye-popping price of 4.8 million dollars (appx. Rs 40 crore) at an auction in Minas Gerais.
Viatina, which belongs to the Nelore breed, weighs 1101 kg—around two times more than the average weight of other cows in the family.
The 53-month-old white-snow bovine had hit headlines when she won the Miss South America at the 'Champion of the World' competition in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Nelore breed, known scientifically as Bos indicus, is descended from the Ongole cattle of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh. They are in high demand globally due to their ability to adapt to tropical climates and disease resistance.
These cattle also have an exceptional ability to endure scorching heat and drought-like conditions and have been revered for centuries as sacred beings.
Brazil is now the world's largest breeder of Nelore cattle. They are also exporting the cattle to various other countries including Argentina, Paraguay, Venezuela, Central America, Mexico and the United States.
THE WEEK had published a story in 2024 detailing how the Nelore breed arrived on Brazilian shores more than one and a half centuries ago and became the bedrock of the South American country's cattle industry.
Last year, at an auction held at Nova Iguaçu, one-third of the ownership of this cow was sold for $1.44 million, propelling her total valuation to an incredible $4.3 million (Rs36 crore).
