Jocko Besne, father of hundreds of thousands of the world's most productive dairy cattle, has died in France of natural causes aged 27, the farming cooperative which raised him said.

Jocko was the sire -- literally in at least 161,888 and perhaps as many as 400,000 cases -- of the Prim'Holstein race of cattle, the main French strain of the black and white Holstein or Friesian breed of milk-producing cows.

"He was the star of French livestock rearing and one of the last stars in world breeding," said David Leguyader, spokesman for the Creavia cooperative.

"He was one of the five bulls whose traits made the Prim'Holstein race."

In his long career, Jocko donated 1.7 million doses of sperm which were exported around the globe to 60 countries. He has been officially credited with

161,888 female offspring but some countries did not keep records.

He also has an unknown number of bullocks, which are rarely counted.

In turn, he earned his owners up to 15 million euros ($20 million).

In thanks he was accorded the rare honor for a farm animal of being allowed to live out his retirement.

And, in an even rarer tribute, he will not be turned into cheap meat but sent to the natural history museum in Paris. (AFP)