The 51st Schau der Besten just wrapped up, and it was amazing! Three-year-old O Katy from Wilcor Holsteins stole the show, moving up from last year’s heifer champ to this year’s Grand Champion. But that’s not all – this cattle extravaganza had more drama than a dairy soap opera!
The three-year-old Holstein cow “O Katy” from Wilcor Holsteins has etched her name in agricultural history by claiming the prestigious “Miss Schau der Besten” title at the 51st cattle show in Verden, Germany on February 27, 2025. This marks a remarkable achievement for owner Cord Hormann, as O Katy defended her position from last year when she won the heifer category, now stepping up to claim the ultimate Grand Champion title. The competition, which attracted around 1,800 spectators to the Niedersachsenhalle and approximately 4,000 more via livestream, showcased the finest Holstein cattle, with the young cows dominating this year’s inspection.
The Prestigious Schau der Besten
The “Schau der Besten,” or Show of the Best, stands as the premier highlight in the German Holstein exhibition scene. This annual event, organized by MASTERRIND, has become a major attraction for cattle breeders and enthusiasts from around the world. You know, it’s not just any old cow show – this is like the Super Bowl of dairy competitions in Germany! The event typically draws over 3,000 visitors from more than 20 countries worldwide, bringing together passionate breeders and admirers of Deutsche Holstein and Holstein Rotbunt breeds.
This year’s 51st edition featured approximately 160 high-quality cattle competing across various categories, with preisrichter (judge) Jürgen Ballmann from Venner Moor in the Osnabrück region evaluating the animals. Ballmann, who himself breeds 120 cows, brought considerable expertise to the evaluation process.
O Katy’s Rise to Championship
O Katy’s journey to becoming “Miss Schau der Besten” is a story of consistent excellence. At just over three years old, this remarkable cow from Wilcor Holsteins in Warmsen (Landkreis Nienburg/Weser) had already made her mark at last year’s competition, winning in the heifer category as a two-year-old. This year, she returned to claim the ultimate prize, impressing judge Jürgen Ballmann with her “fantastic ring presence” and “very good udder balance”.
The moment of coronation was appropriately dramatic. Accompanied by the elegant sounds of piano and violin, Ballmann carefully evaluated the six class winners before making his final decision. The tension in the hall was palpable as he approached O Katy and delivered the winner’s “pat” (Siegerklaps), officially designating her as Grand Champion. For owner Cord Hormann, this represented the culmination of years of careful breeding and excellent animal husbandry at his Wilcor Holsteins operation.
What makes O Katy particularly special is her consistent development. Her transformation from a promising heifer to the Grand Champion demonstrates exceptional genetics and care. When she first appeared in the 2024 show, the commentary noted her “fineness and advantages in the shoulder area”. Now, as a three-year-old, she’s developed into a complete package that exemplifies the breed standard. I’ve seen a lot of breeding competitions in my day, but watching a young animal mature into championship form like this is something special!
Other Category Winners and Notable Competitors
The competition was fierce across all categories, with several notable winners emerging. In the young cows division, where O Katy claimed her initial victory of the day, Loh Milana from Loh An Holsteins in Emsbüren secured the reserve championship. This impressive cow, sired by Lambda, later went on to challenge O Katy for the overall Grand Champion title, ultimately securing the Reserve Grand Champion position.
In the older cows category, Wilcor Holsteins continued their dominance with another victory. The red-and-white O Kalotta, sired by Awesome, claimed the top spot, outperforming Albany (sired by Swift) from Hermann and Jörg Ekkel’s farm in Itterbeck. O Kalotta’s strong showing earned her an Honorable Mention in the Grand Champion selection, making this a particularly successful show for Wilcor Holsteins, who had two cows place in the top three overall.
The youngest category featured two-year-old Leonie, sired by Lambda, from Morisse GbR in Bremen taking the win. Her victory highlighted the promising future of this breeding operation. The reserve title in this category went to Hat Halligalli, sired by Pairing, from Josef and Bernd Hatke’s farm in Bösel. The judge praised this first class of young heifers as a “großartigen Momentaufnahme” (great snapshot) of quality, indicating the strong future of Holstein breeding in the region.
The Historic Life Production Class
Perhaps one of the most remarkable stories from this year’s Schau der Besten came from the life production class, which showcases cows with exceptional longevity and lifetime milk production. This category celebrates the ultimate goal of dairy breeding – cows that remain productive for many years.
The victory in this prestigious class went to Loh Lipa Dua from Loh An Holsteins in Emsbüren[2]. What made this win especially historic was that her mother, Loh Lippi, also competed in the same class – marking the first time in European history that a mother and daughter competed together in a lifetime production class. Talk about keeping it in the family!
Loh Lippi, with her incredible lifetime milk production of around 145,000 liters, secured third place in the category. Between this remarkable mother-daughter duo stood FG Memphis, sired by Arvis, from Henrik Wille’s farm in Essen, who claimed the reserve position. Judge Ballmann was visibly moved by the quality of these extraordinary animals, remarking that “Wen dieser Anblick kalt lässt, der ist auf einer Eisscholle geboren” (Whoever remains cold at this sight must have been born on an ice floe), and declaring “Dies ist das Zuchtziel, auf das wir alle hinarbeiten!” (This is the breeding goal that we all work towards!).
Wilcor Holsteins: A Breeding Success Story
The 51st Schau der Besten proved to be a remarkable triumph for Wilcor Holsteins, owned by Cord Hormann and based in Großenvörde, Warmsen. With O Katy taking the Grand Champion title and O Kalotta winning the older cows category and receiving an Honorable Mention in the overall championship, the breeding operation emerged as the dominant force at this year’s competition.
Wilcor Holsteins has established itself as a significant player in the Holstein breeding community. The operation hosts regular sales events called “Welcome to Wilcor Sale,” with previous events in September 2022 and 2024 featuring high-quality genetics from their own stock as well as from partner breeders in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. The success at this year’s Schau der Besten will likely enhance the reputation and value of their breeding stock considerably.
For Cord Hormann, the victories represent recognition of his breeding philosophy and management practices. Having two cows place so highly in the competition validates the quality of his breeding program and will certainly attract attention from other breeders looking to incorporate these successful genetics into their own herds. I imagine he’s walking around his farm with a pretty big smile these days!
The Spectacle and Impact of Schau der Besten
The Schau der Besten is more than just a competition – it’s a spectacular celebration of breeding excellence and agricultural tradition. The presentation of the Grand Champion finalists was appropriately theatrical, with piano and violin music accompanying the cows as they entered on a red carpet. This blend of agricultural expertise and showmanship creates a unique atmosphere that captivates both industry professionals and casual spectators.
The Schau der Besten serves as an important platform for knowledge exchange among breeders. The event included special recognitions, such as the naming of Sandra Hartenstein as “Jungzüchter des Jahres” (Young Breeder of the Year), highlighting the importance of nurturing the next generation of breeding experts. The competition also featured a presentation of offspring from popular SYNETICS bulls, providing valuable information for breeders considering these genetics for their herds.
Conclusion
The 51st Schau der Besten in Verden will be remembered as a showcase of exceptional Holstein cattle, with three-year-old O Katy’s rise to become Grand Champion standing as the pinnacle achievement. Her victory, along with the success of stablemate O Kalotta, solidifies Wilcor Holsteins’ reputation as a leading breeding operation in Germany’s competitive Holstein scene.
The historic mother-daughter competition in the life production class between Loh Lippi and her daughter Loh Lipa Dua offered a powerful testament to the goals of longevity and productivity that drive Holstein breeding. As the “epicenter of cattle breeding,” the Niedersachsenhalle in Verden provided the perfect stage for these remarkable animals and their proud owners to showcase generations of careful breeding and excellent management.
As O Katy takes her place in the pantheon of Schau der Besten champions, joining previous winners like Rosalie from Henrik Wille’s farm and Maryrose from the Strudthoff farm, she symbolizes the continued vitality and excellence of Holstein breeding in Germany. The next chapter in this story will likely unfold at the upcoming agricultural events in 2025, including the Tarmstedter Ausstellung in July and the 2nd Meißener Schautage in April, where new champions may emerge, but O Katy’s achievement will remain a benchmark of excellence in the Holstein world.
