A family on August 27th 2020 sold their six months old sheep at an Auction in Scotland and it became the world’s most expensive sheep.
The sheep christened Double Diamond was sold at the Scottish National Texel Sale at Lanark by Charlie Boden and family at 350,000gns which is almost Kshs. 53 million according to a news release from the Texel Sheep Society.
The sheep had generated a lot of interest at the auction before it started and bidding started at around Kshs. 14 million. The bidding then got so intense that three families had to team up in order to buy the prized sheep.
“It’s just like every other business — horse racing or the cattle business,” Jeff Aiken, one of the winning bidders told The Guardian. “Every once in a while something special comes along and yesterday an extra special Texel turned up. Everyone wanted a piece of it.”
The farmer said the sheep had good genetics and that is why everyone was interested in it. “We knew it was going to be something really special. He was just an outstanding animal, backed up by all the best genetics. There was about seven or eight people who really, really wanted him and that’s what led to the price,” he said.
The three families who bought the sheep will share it through breeding.
Texel sheep originated on the island of Texel in the Netherlands. They have a well-developed body and produce high-quality lean meat which makes them a butcher’s favourite according to the Texel sheep Society.
It is common for livestock to be sold in guineas at auctions in the United Kingdom, where one guinea is about Kshs. 151. The previous record was held by a sheep named Deveronvale Perfection in 2009 at Kshs. 33 million.