The Strange And Oddly Lucrative World of Cattle Gallstones

Turns out, the beef industry might just be stepping into its golden age.

What’s that, you ask? Well, brace yourself—because gallstones found in beef carcasses during processing can be worth as much as the entire rest of the cow. Yep, you read that right. A little clump of hardened bile could be more valuable than the steak, the roast, and the burger combined. In fact, at the time of this publication, they are worth more than GOLD.

How on earth is that possible? Well, Chinese medicine places big value on beef gallstones. Some folks in China trust ancient remedies over modern medicine, and they’re willing to shell out serious cash for these little nuggets of… well, whatever they are. In fact, China spends an estimated $60 billion annually on traditional medicine, and beef gallstones are among the most sought-after ingredients.

And when I say valuable, I mean eye-wateringly valuable. Ground-up beef gallstones can sell for $5,800 an ounce—which, for those keeping score at home, is nearly double the current price of gold. That’s right. Some poor cow’s internal debris is worth more per ounce than the shiniest rock in Fort Knox.

Traditional Chinese medicine credits gallstones with treating everything from high blood pressure to heart disease to strokes. The practice has been around for centuries, but its popularity surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when China’s government actively promoted it as a source of national pride.

But here’s where things take an even stranger turn. Some brokers believe gallstones are no longer just medicinal—they might also be turning into a form of currency. With China’s economy struggling and strict currency laws in place, wealthy individuals may be investing in gallstones like they would gold, storing them away or reselling them on the international market to convert cash into a more liquid (or, in this case, solidified) asset.

Now, before you start daydreaming about turning your backyard into a high-stakes gallstone farm, there’s a catch. Not every cow produces gallstones, and even when they do, those stones need to be properly harvested and handled. Otherwise, they can mold, degrade, or lose value.

Most of the world’s beef gallstones come from slaughterhouses in Brazil and Australia, with Australia producing around 200 kilograms per year—which may not sound like much, but when you consider that it takes 30,000 cattle to yield just one kilogram of gallstones, you start to see the scale of the challenge.

Cattle gallstones, also known as bovine gallstones or bezoars, are hardened deposits that form in a cow’s gallbladder, much like kidney stones in humans. They develop over time when bile components—such as cholesterol, calcium salts, and bilirubin—crystallize and clump together. These stones typically form as a result of liver function issues, diet, genetics, or infections. Unlike humans, however, most cattle never develop gallstones, making them a rare byproduct of the beef industry rather than an expected yield.

In facilities that are aware of their value, workers carefully remove and set aside any found stones. The quality and price of these stones depend on their size, color, texture, and purity—with larger, golden-yellow stones fetching the highest prices.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I see a massive opportunity here. If the beef industry could somehow breed cattle that naturally produce more gallstones—or better yet, if scientists could develop a feed supplement that encourages gallstone formation—well, let’s just say the Angus and Hereford might have to make room for some new breeds.

Of course, I’m mostly kidding. Mostly.

Because let’s be honest—if something can double the value of a beef carcass, it’s probably worth more than just a passing glance. And if we’re truly entering a new Golden Age of American prosperity, why shouldn’t the beef industry enjoy its own Gallden Age?

Stranger things have happened.