Competitors are said to pump air to deliberately inflate the udders before sealing the teats with superglue to stop the air or milk leaking out.
The procedure gives the cattle the appearance of having full udders, an attribute believed to be desirable in show cattle.
The practice, which leaves cows in “severe discomfort”, is understood to be an attempt to win agricultural prizes for their animals.
Champion animals can fetch up to £100,000 at auction and are highly prized for breeding.
The RSCPA has promised to investigate complaints, although no prosecutions have yet taken place.
Animals will now be checked for evidence of artificial inflation at shows and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it would prosecute exhibitors found to be in breach of welfare laws.
Anyone eventually found guilty in court could face up to six months in prison, a £5,000 fine or a ban on keeping animals.
Vet David Martin told a conference of the British Veterinary Association (BVA): “Filling udders with gas is becoming a serious problem.
“When an udder becomes full it will cause severe discomfort. We think that cows are being left like that for 12 to 24 hours."
BVA president Carl Padgett said preventing the pumping going on would require a “change of mindset” and questioned “why cows have to show huge udders to be champions”.
He will now meet breeders and show organisers to discuss routine ultrasound scanning of cattle at shows.
Alick Simmons, the Government’s deputy chief vet, said: “This practice is totally unacceptable and has serious welfare implications for the animals.
“Farmers clearly have a duty of care for their animals but vets, too, need to make sure that they take action where they see this practice taking place.
"I have alerted the veterinary associations to this issue and to remind show vets to be on the look-out for this disturbing practice.”
Royal Association for British Dairy Farmers implemented a rule banning the sealing of teats at a show in Birmingham last September.
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