Top 5 Most Expensive Cow Breeds In The World

Cows have been bred since 10,000 years ago and the first species of livestock for cows is called aurochs, wildlife that lived all over Eurasia. But the final species became extinct in the wild due to the loss of its habitat and excessive poaching. Cows were originally bred for various reasons.

Raising cows became very popular due to the source of meat and new breed being produced. Depending on the location, cows might have different characteristics as the climate and breeding factors come into play.

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Aside from being a food source and manpower, throughout history, cows have also been a part of social and religious traditions in some countries. The same thing is said as cows have become a symbol of status in history showing true wealth and prosperity.

Here we would like to show you some of the most expensive cow breeds in the world. Every species will have its own uniqueness explaining the hefty price behind each cow species.

5. Devon

Standing at 5th place on this list will be the cow, Devon. Although the origin of this cow is unknown, experts believed that the cow actually came from the United Kingdom. The cows went to North America when the colonizer landed in Plymouth in the 1600s.

This very durable animal can definitely survive harsh environments as it can bear the weather and not to mention it can be bred easily. The Devon cow is commonly used as a source of meat to this day.

You can easily identify this species due to its thick brown reddish fur but they can also adapt to the cold weather by growing their furs even further as winter hits. Overall, the Devon cow can be sold for almost $6000 but it is definitely a price worth paying.

4. Longhorn

Not similar to other cows, the Longhorn is not commonly bred as a food source. Instead, this cow is more toward shows. The cows are usually valued based on their physical traits and the winner will get the highest profile exposure in the world of Longhorns.

Longhorn has a very deep root relation with Texas but the reality is that the cow is not the native species of Texas. The cows were introduced to North America when the Spanish colonizers paid a visit to that region together with the cows. Several Longhorn cows were left behind in America for them to be bred.

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Longhorn has an average weight of 1,200 pounds during their adult phase. The price of a Longhorn will be dependent on several factors but one thing for sure is that it will definitely reach $10,000 just for 1 of these cows.

3. Black Angus

Black Angus or its scientific name Bos taurus is a breed originating from Scotland. This cow is perhaps very popular for its quality meat but do you also know that the cow is also used in our everyday things such as crayons and cosmetics?

After the cow is slaughtered, its body such as bones, nails, and hair will be used for our daily product routine. The tendons, cartilage, and skin will be used to make gelatins, one of the most common ingredients in our food. The cow's parts can also be used to produce insulin for diabetic patients.

Overall, the use of Black Angus will most commonly be as a food source. Many people are willing to pay a high price for Black Angus meat due to its juiciness and tenderness of the meat.

You can see the cow being sold for up to $12,000 a piece making it the third most expensive breed in the world.

2. Brahman

Sitting in second place will be the Brahman. Under the family name Bos indicus, this cow can easily be identified by its huge hump at the back, wrinkled skin, and its big ears. The breed as some of you might know came from India but a new type of breed in the US is what is called the American Brahman.

This cow is usually slaughtered and used in the meat industry. Other types of uses include choice breeding and dairy production. As a specific breed, the Brahman proclaims a very hefty price tag. One Brahman can be sold for a whopping $20,000!

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Brahman cows are usually registered with specific organizations like the American Brahman which tracks back the family tree of each cow. The cows which are registered as a quality breed will be set at a higher value.

1. Wagyu

The wagyu beef is very well known around the world for being a prestige beef served as the finest dish yet. But do you also know that this delicacy comes from 4 different breeds of cows?

The term wagyu originally came from the Shorthorn, Brown, Black, and Polled cows. These varieties were bred selectively for physical endurance resulting in the development of a significant intramuscular fat. Simply speaking, Wagyu cows have more fat which makes the meat so tender.

However, the life of a Wagyu cow can be quite depressing as the animal is purposely kept in a small shed so that its movement will be quite limited. Fewer movements will mean that farmers can control the development of the muscles(meat) of the cow.

Wagyu cows will remain in their shed until they are sold as food in the market. They are usually sold for the price of $30,000 making them the most expensive cow breeds on the market.

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