University of Missouri students were stunned when a large dairy cow appeared on campus to make a cameo in a graduation photo shoot.

Bizarre on Female First

Bizarre on Female First

The Columbia Missourian reported that senior animal sciences major Massimo Montalbano brought the three-year-old animal, named Amelia, to join his commencement photo shoot.

Massimo worked with the cattle during his undergraduate studies at the University's Foremost Dairy Research Centre.

He told the Missourian: ''I've worked at the dairy basically all throughout college. I bonded with all of the (the cows) and she's one of my favourites. I just gave her a bath this morning.''

He initially presented the idea to Jim Spain - the vice for undergraduate studies - who referred him to the operations department, who in turn approved the request.

According to Jim, it is not the first time a student has asked him to bring a cow to campus - but it was still a rare sight to unsuspecting bystanders.