World's Most Expensive Sheep Sells For £231,000

A sheep has been sold for a world record price of £231,000 at a livestock auction in Scotland, and is believed to have become the world's most expensive sheep.

The eight-month-old Texel tup, the farming term of an uncastrated male, called Deveronvale Perfection was bred in Banffshire by Graham Morrison at the Scottish National Texel Sale at Lanark Market. The buyer was a Fraserburgh farmer named Jimmy Douglas who was clearly impressed by the sheep's "great body and strong loin."

Deveronvale Perfection, bred by embryo transfer, is the offspring of Kelso Oxygen, one of the breed's leading tups, and Knock Magnum, a champion ewe. According to Yates, not only does the little lamb have the right genetics but also "looks good" - with the perfect size of loin and back muscle, which is usually used to make lamb chops.

Before the staggering price set by Deveronvale Perfection, the UK's previous most expensive sheep, Tophill Joe, was sold for £128,000 six years ago. He died recently after giving birth to some little lambs worth more than £1 million.