Cow named Poshspice becomes world’s most expensive heifer after selling for £262,000

'Stylish and shapely' Limousin heifer Wilodge Poshspice bred from supreme champion cow Millbrook Gingerspice

(Rex Features)

A cow named after the Spice Girl, Posh Spice, has broken the world record after it sold for £262,000.

Wilodge Poshspice, a pedigree heifer that was bred at Lodge Hill Farm in Shifnal, Shropshire, was sold at an auctioneers in Carlisle for double the price of the previous breed best, which sold for £131,250 in 2014.

Breeder and livestock farmer Christine Williams, who established the Wilodge herd with her late father Don in 1989, described the sale as “mind-blowing and surreal”.

“We never ever expected her to make that much in our wildest dreams,” she said. “We are overwhelmed and equally delighted to have achieved this fantastic result.”

The one-year-old “shapely and stylish” Limousin heifer was bred from Millbrook Gingerspice, a supreme champion cow that won the Balmoral Show three times in a row.

Cattle breeders Messrs Jenkinson, of Penrith, Cumbria, and Boden and Davies, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, purchased her in partnership at the auction on 29 January and will share the maiden heifer.

Ms Williams explained that Poshspice was named as such because her mother’s name was Gingerspice, and “you always try to name the females and link them to the dam line”.

“She wasn’t moody or anything like that - we just try to link the females to the mother,” she told the MailOnline.

“I did suddenly think on the way down from the sale I hope Posh Spice’s name isn’t copyrighted or anything.”

Six more heifers were sold from the Wilodge herd, which were sold for between £10,000 and £25,000.

Will Ketley, breed secretary of the British Limousin Cattle Society, said: “The society is delighted to offer its congratulations to the team at Wilodge for this incredible and iconic achievement that marks a wealth of breeding over the decades.

“I would also like to thank all the buyers that made this sale a fantastic success for not only the breeders, but the breed itself. It is not just the record breaker worthy of note, the sale was truly a success from start to finish for both Wilodge and Brockhurst alike.

“I wish all the successful purchasers good luck and look forward to seeing those bloodlines continue to flourish,” he added.