Karina Fetches 6.7 Billion Won, Lives Under 24-Hour Armed Guard... World's Most Expensive Cow in the Spotlight

One Ovum Worth $110,000... 1.1-Ton Giant and Elite Genetics Set World-Record Price

A luxury cow from Brazil with exceptional genetics has made headlines after being auctioned off for an astronomical amount and setting a Guinness World Record.

"Nellore cow 'Karina,' recorded as the 'most expensive cow in the world' with a record auction price due to its excellent genetics." Instagram capture

According to the U.S. media outlet A-Z Animals on August 15 (local time), a Nellore cow named Karina, a representative elite breed from Brazil, was officially recorded as the most expensive cow in the world after being sold at auction for 4.74 million dollars (approximately 6.7 billion won). Karina also won the championship for three consecutive years at Brazil's most prestigious cattle show.

Previously, in 2023, another Nellore breed cow named Viathina set the record for the highest auction price after being sold for 4.38 million dollars (about 6.2 billion won), but Karina surpassed this achievement.

Karina's astronomical valuation stems from her outstanding genetics. Karina is massive, weighing about 1.1 tons. Ranch owners extract her eggs and sell them individually, implanting them into surrogate cows to continue her superior bloodline. Each egg is valued at an impressive 110,000 dollars (about 156 million won). Ranchers are making efforts to use Karina's superior genetics to produce high-quality specimens, aiming to establish the Nellore breed as the global standard for prime beef in the international beef market.

As a result, Karina lives under 24-hour, heavily armed security and receives close supervision from a dedicated veterinarian.

'Viathina,' formerly known as the 'world's most expensive cow.' Instagram capture

The Nellore breed originates from India. First imported to Brazil in the 1960s, Nellore cattle have since perfectly adapted to local conditions. According to research from Oklahoma State University, Nellore cows have sagging skin and twice as many sweat glands as European breeds—30% more in total—giving them a natural resistance to heat. Their thick skin also makes them highly resistant to blood-sucking insects and parasites, enhancing their disease resistance. Thanks to efficient metabolism, they can withstand extreme droughts and poor-quality feed, and they grow quickly and have excellent reproductive capabilities. Nellore calves are also known to require very little human intervention as they grow.

Currently, 80% of cattle raised in Brazil are either purebred Nellore or Nellore-cross, making them the core breed of the country's livestock industry. In Brazil, Nellore semen accounts for 65% of total semen sales in the cattle artificial insemination market. Outstanding Nellore semen is also traded at high prices.

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