Udderly Beautiful: Rohtak Hosts Beauty Pageant for Cows and Bulls

In photos: Rohtak’s bovine beauty pageant.

People visit an enclosure where cows and bulls are kept prior to walking on the ramp.(Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri)

In a bovine beauty pageant aimed at promoting domestic cattle breeds and raising awareness about animal health, hundreds of cows and bulls walked the ramp in Rohtak, Haryana on Saturday. Here is a collection of photos from the event.

People drink tea at an enclosure where cows and bulls are kept prior to walking on the ramp. (Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri)

As farmers led their animals, the panel of experts judged the beasts for their size and overall looks, the length of their horns and, for the cows, their milk-yielding capacities. The judges selected 18 winners in various categories, choosing the healthiest and best-looking cows and bulls from more than 630 animals in the contest.

A man waits for signal to lead his cow on the ramp. (Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri)

Some sashayed with casual grace, while others dug in their heels and had to be pulled and prodded by their owners to walk for the judges.

A man leads his bull onto the ramp. (Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri)

A man leads his cow onto the ramp. (Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri)

As farmers led their animals, the panel of experts judged the beasts for their size and overall looks, the length of their horns and, for the cows, their milk-yielding capacities. The judges selected 18 winners in various categories, choosing the healthiest and best-looking cows and bulls from more than 630 animals in the contest.

A man tends to his bull prior to walking on the ramp. (Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri)

A man holds the reins of his bull. (Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri)

“I have brought my best cow for the show and she has won a prize,” Randhir Singh, a farmer from nearby Dwarka village, said as he pointed to a red ribbon tied around the head of his well-groomed cow, which won first place in its category. “I wanted my cow to win and she has done me proud.”

A decorated pair of bulls at the contest. (Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri)

In recent years, India has emerged as one of the world’s largest producers of milk, although yields from Indian cows are low compared to those in Europe or America. The government is trying to improve milk yields of domestic cows by offering better veterinary support and counseling to cattle farmers.