231K for a sheep? Ewe must be mad
BUYERS GO ANIMAL CRACKERS
IT might sound a bit birdbrained but a racing pigeon has sold for more than £1million.
Super-speedy Armando, dubbed the Lewis Hamilton of pigeons, was the subject of a bidding war between two Chinese buyers.
Before the Belgian bird’s sale, the previous record for a pigeon purchase was £321,800.
But Armando isn’t the only creature who’s been flogged with a big price tag. NADINE LINGE looks at some other expensive animals.
Fusaichi Pegasus – £48m
This stallion became the most expensive horse in history when he was bought in 2000.
Named after his owner Fusao Sekiguchi, the Japanese word ichi and Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology, he won the Kentucky Derby that year.
He has gone to sire more than 60 race winners worldwide.
Unnamed tuna fish – £2.4m
In January, sushi tycoon Kiyoshi Kimura forked out this for a giant bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s new fish market. This species is
prized but endangered. Kimura said of his 612lb buy: “The quality of tuna I bought is the best.”
Big Splash – £1m
No it’s not a shaggy dog story. This red Tibetan mastiff was sold for this huge amount to a Chinese oil baron in 2011.
Bill Lambert from the Kennel Club said: “The Tibetan Mastiff in the UK will traditionally sell for
£600 to £1,000.
“The high price is a reflection of how the breed has become a revered status symbol in China.”
Missy –
£830,000
Magnificent Missy was bought by a group of Canadian investors in 2013 who coughed up the giant fee thanks to her perfect proportions. The black-andwhite Holstein cow apparently has a rightsized udder and wellplaced teats and produces
50% more milk than your average beast, 50kg a day.
Deveronvale Perfection –
£231,000 Ewe must be kidding! Aberdeenshire breeder Jimmy Douglas bought this sheep for £231,000 in 2009. It was bred by embryo transfer and was the son of parents Kelso Oxygen and Knock Magnum. Jonathan Long from Farmers Weekly said: “I know it seems like a lot to pay for a sheep but we are talking about the top end of pedigree breeding.”
Three Bengal tigers – £144,000
Who would be bonkers enough to buy three of these wild animals to keep? Mike Tyson of course.
He decided to buy them during a prison chat with his car dealer, and they each cost a reported £48,000 – but even more to keep and feed.
He eventually gave them up after losing a gold tooth when he tried to give one a kiss.
Cato – £29,000
The costliest cat on record is thought to be the Bengal Cato, snapped up by Cindy Jackson in London for £28,763.
Befitting his status, he has a fully bling lifestyle, living in his own cat flat, attending parties with Cindy and occasionally sporting an 18-carat gold and diamond Cartier necklace.