Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis, a 4.5-year-old Nelore bull, has recently been valued at $4.3 million, making it the most expensive bull in the world to date.
According to Oddity Central, at an auction in Arandú, Brazil, one-third of the ownership of Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis was sold for $1.44 million, bringing the total value of the bull to an astonishing $4.3 million.
Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis sets record value. (Photo: Minuto Rural).
Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis was dubbed the most expensive bull in the world last year when half of its ownership was auctioned for about $800,000. This was also considered a record price at that time.
This record-breaking transaction demonstrates the true value of purebred Nelore cattle in Brazil. It also highlights the strong demand for high-quality livestock with outstanding genetic traits.
The Nelore breed is characterized by its bright white coat and a distinct hump on its shoulder. This breed is primarily known for its high resilience to hot weather. Their white coat plays a crucial role in this, as it reflects most wavelengths of light. Additionally, the sweat glands of Nelore cattle are twice as large and more than 30% higher than those of most breeds in Europe.
The Nelore breed originated in India and is named after the Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh. Nelore cattle have a very efficient metabolism, thriving even on poor-quality roughage.
Moreover, Nelore cattle are known for their exceptional health and resilience, capable of resisting various parasitic infections, and their thick skin makes it harder for blood-sucking insects to penetrate. This breed also reproduces very easily, as females have wider pelvises and larger uteri compared to other livestock breeds. Meanwhile, calves typically require little human assistance to grow successfully to adulthood.
Due to their numerous advantages, some places have selectively bred this cattle breed to enhance its superior traits using artificial insemination methods.
According to a 2018 report by The Guardian, semen from the rarest Nelore bulls can be sold for $5,000 per 0.55 ml. Currently, Brazil has approximately 167 million Nelore cattle, accounting for about 80% of the livestock in this South American country.
