Its pure white coat and long silky ears suggest this sheep is no domestic dolly, but it’s hard to believe the animal is so rare a Chinese farmer has turned down 12 million Yuan (£1.1m) for the livestock.

Land owner Paerhati bought the Wagir sheep from Afghanistan last March when it was just a lamb and shunned the huge cash offer in favour of breeding the animal, which will soon be suitable for mating.

Also known as the "Swordsman sheep", only around 1,000 pure blooded animals are believed to exist worldwide.

The “Swordsman” isn’t the only four-legged creature to attract huge sums of money, see nine more of the world’s most expensive animals, below:

Which animal would you splash the cash for? Let us know on Twitter or in the comments section below.

Words: Anna Pollitt. Pictures: Rex Features