Thai ladyboys had a hilarious buffalo imitation contest at a blessing ceremony for the farm animals in northeast Thailand.

Footage shows transgender beauty pageant contestants grunting and mooing as they did their best impression of the beasts during the festival at Panrua Village in Surin province on May 16.

The annual event began with a parade of motorcycle sidecars before food and alcohol were offered to the ancestral spirits of the village.

A buffalo was later led to plough a small plot of land in a ceremonial rite as the farming season nears.

Contests and activities such as buffalo pageants, buffalo fashion shows, and rice pounding were held to liven up the festivities.

However, the highlight of the event was a beauty pageant for Thailand's beloved ladyboys or transgender women.

There was a talent portion and an interview portion in which the candidates were made to mimic the sounds made by a buffalo.

Kawinthida 'Tonlew' Kaewmongkol was crowned the village beauty queen and received a 4,000 THB (88 GBP) cash prize.

The second and third runners-up won 3,000 THB (66 GBP) and 2,000 THB (44 GBP) respectively.

Panrua Village in Surin won the national award for buffalo conservation and development in 2000.

As a way to honour the hardworking farm animals, village officials organise the blessing ceremony every year right before the farming season.