In the bustling world of agriculture and livestock auctions, every so often a jaw-dropping moment grabs the spotlight, drawing in farmers, investors, and curious onlookers alike.
Enter Viatina-19 FIV Mara Movéis, a Brazilian cow that shattered auction records last month and became the most expensive bovine ever sold, according to Guinness World Records.
This young cow fetched an astonishing $4.38 million at an auction in Arandú, São Paulo, Brazil. Only a third of Viatina-19’s ownership was sold for $1.44 million, making her total worth a cool $4.38 million. She’s co-owned by Casa Branca Agropastoril, Agropecuária Napemo, and Nelore HRO.
Now, $4.38 million could buy over 1,400 head of commercial cows, new farm equipment, or even that beach house you might need to get away from it all, so why would this particular cow go for so much in a country with 235 million cows?
Born 53 months ago in Nova Iguaçu de Goiás, Brazil, Viatina-19 is already grazing her way into the history books as one of the finest Nelore cows ever. This massive cow tips the scales at over 2,400 pounds, combining what Cleiton Borges, Viatana-19’s veterinarian, tells The Associated Press is, “Beauty, reproductive capacity, modern genealogy, in a single animal.”
Needless to say, the world-famous cow is monitored day and night with cameras and an armed guard, and owners have even purchased billboards advertising what they are calling a “super cow.” She even has her own social media accounts.
Viatina-19 is currently bred herself, but her embryos alone are fetching $250,000, and 10 surrogates are currently bred with Vietana-19’s clones.
Despite the hype that Viatina-19’s owners have placed on their hopes to raise bigger, meatier cows in Brazil, which is the world’s largest beef exporter, commercial producers often seek out more moderately-sized cattle in the U.S.
“High-maintenance cows like Viatina-19 aren’t profitable on a large, commercial scale because they couldn’t meet their energy needs from grass alone,” P.J. Budler, international business manager for Trans Ova Genetics, told reporters.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
Now, that’s a lot of cow, but it’s also a lot of money! That would be very expensive hamburger - $1,825/pound. Seriously, the real value is producing offspring via birth or embryos. Welcome to the world of agricultural genetics. This cow will have an enduring legacy. And so can you! Simply use all the amazing tools under the Certified Ag Group umbrella - AgPack®, AgTruckTrader.com®, CADFI, CAD Protect, AgRally and all the specialized training and marketing we can provide. Each offering designed to help you sell more trucks!
