Cattle beauty salon preps cows for Roskilde agricultural show contests

Over 100,000 visitors are expected at this weekend’s Roskilde agricultural show, where livestock beauty competitions will take center stage—with cows, heifers, and calves undergoing grooming in a dedicated beauty salon before judging, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

Farmer Michael Andersen of Tøvestensgaard in Hejninge compared the preparations to human routines before a night out. “It’s like when you’re going to town—you put on makeup, style your hair, and add that final shine,” he said. “It’s all so the animal looks its best, and we can see if we can beat the others.”

Andersen selected 10 heifers from his herd of 800 cattle to compete in Friday’s contests, sending them through the salon for brushing, blow-drying, and final touches. He will enter about 10 competitions across categories, a tradition he has upheld for 40 years.

While he described the events as a hobby and social gathering, he admitted, “It would be nice to win a competition or two.” Judges and competitors alike study past winners, as the contests—ranging from cattle beauty to donkey agility and chicken jumping—remain a core part of the show’s competitive spirit.