Rani, at 50.8cm high, became an instant internet celebrity. Tens of thousands of people rushed to the farm she lived on outside Dhaka for a glimpse of the miniature cow.

But just after its owners applied to Guinness World Records, tragedy struck on Aug 19 when the beloved bovine died due to a sudden internal build-up of gas.

The cow’s owner, Kazi Mohammad Abu Sufian, said he received an email on Monday from Guinness World Records saying that Rani’s application had been accepted.

A statement on the Guinness website confirmed the miniature Bhutti cow’s world-record status, beating the previous holder, an Indian cow named Manikyam that stood 61cm from hoof to withers.

“We sent several videos of Rani in line with Guinness World Records requirements. We have also sent the post-mortem report to the Guinness authorities to see that there was nothing unusual about her death,”Kazi told AFP.

He added that he had also sent Rani’s medical records to Guinness after they asked whether she had received hormone injections.

“We have mixed feelings after Rani got the recognition. We are happy she got her due honours, but we are at the same time very sad because she is no more with us,” Kazi said.

“Her carer burst out crying as soon as we told him the news.”