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At an annual ploughing ritual in Thailand, oxen are expected to predict the future. This year, the sacred oxen indicated a good harvest for this year's rice crop. Thailand's crown prince hosted the event.

Thailand's crown prince held the annual Brahminica ploughing ritual in Bangkok on Friday. At the ceremony, Thailand's sacred oxen predicted good rainfall for a bumper rice crop this coming growing season.

The ancient ploughing ceremony in Buddhist Thailand marks the beginning of the rainy season. The ceremony heralded an auspicious start for the rice-planting season for the world biggest rice exporter.

Officials wearing ancient costumes paraded near the Grand Palace with a pair of trained oxen from King Bhumibol's agricultural project.

During the ceremony, the pair of oxen were offered several kinds of food in banana-leaf platters, including paddy, grass, corn, hay, sesame seed, water and liquor to make the prediction.

This year, the sacred cows chose grass and liquor, signifying good rainfall. According to a senior minister from the Ministry of Agriculture, the omen would bring about ample water and crops, as well as smooth international trade.

The Ministry of Agriculture reports that Thailand is forecasting production of around 23 million tons of paddy... slightly higher than last year's 22.5 million tons.

Rice crops in Thailand are usually grown in May and harvested in November.