Double victory goes to Warmsen

The tension was palpable in the Niedersachsenhalle in Verden on the morning of 26 February 2026, shortly before the Schau der Besten was due to begin. Exhibitors were putting the finishing touches to their animals, the cows were mooing excitedly, and there was a bustle of activity everywhere you looked.

Like all its predecessors, the 52nd Schau der Bestent began with the heifers entering the arena at 9.30 a.m. The hall steadily filled with curious visitors while judge Gary Jones from Ireland got down to business and judged the first class. The class winner in this group of quite diverse animals was Loh HS Why so Shy from Loh An Holsteins & Hubertus Sell, Emsbüren. Her completeness and enormous heart depth were the deciding factors. She was joined by Loh Lessy, also from Loh An Holsteins, who was placed ahead of the runner-up due to her femininity, milk type and the advantages of her fore udder.

In the second heifer class, Jones's scrutinising gaze focused closely on Lenka from Friedrichs GbR in Großenkneten and NM Ginger from Nessetalmilch GmbH in Nessetal. The decision was made in favour of Lenka, who is a very well-balanced heifer with advantages in her foundation and a wide and high rear udder. NM Ginger in 1b, on the other hand, presented herself as an enormously strong first-lactation cow, competing with great depth and width and making excellent use of her physical advantages, such as her outstanding rear udder. Overall, the class impressed with its high quality.

With balance from front to back, Livia from Morisse GbR in Bremen prevailed in the third, very strong heifer class. Her power, movement, openness and length, as well as her fantastic udder, placed her ahead of Hat Inkapi from Hatke GbR in Bösel, who was placed 1b. Inkapi showed great strength and width in her ribs. However, her udder is her showpiece, especially the high and wide, beautifully beaded rear udder.

The last class of heifers was led by Fux Serena, owned by Ralf-Günther Ritz from Uelzen, who was placed ahead of LLH Keks from Peter Burmester from Handorf, who came in 1b, due to her capacity, ample rib space and advantages in movement and udder. Keks shone with her charisma, naturalness and very good rear udder, which is high and wide.

The darkened hall, the atmospheric lighting and the musical accompaniment made it clear that it was time to select the winners. All the heifers ranked 1a and 1b entered individually and had their moment in the spotlight.

The tension in the hall was palpable as Gary Jones, cheered on by the applause of the audience, made his rounds around his four favourites. Loh HS Why so Shy, Lenka, Livia and Fux Serena were just waiting for the judge to choose them as the winner. The 2026 winning heifer was ultimately Loh HS Why so Shy from Loh An Holsteins & Hubertus Sell. Only four weeks into lactation, she dominated with her fantastic udder and almost unparalleled strength that runs from front to back through her body. These advantages put her ahead of the reserve champion Lenka from Friedrichs GbR. Her extremely good udder, especially the rear udder, and her incredible balance put her ahead of the Honourable Mention, Fux Serena from Ralf-Günther Ritz.

There was probably no one in the audience who would not like to see the cows in the medium winner selection in their own barn. Once again, all the exhibitors experienced that special moment in the spotlight with their animals in the otherwise darkened hall.

Six cows ultimately made it to the final round: Louella, Mel, O Katy, Loh Sch Mojito and Loh Tj Chizzy. ‘I don't want to lie to you,’ said judge Gary Jones in his judging decision, as thunderous applause broke out for his selection of the winner. ‘My three favourites are very close together! They are all incredibly impressive cows, just the way we like them.’ The winner of the middle cow classes was Louella from Wilcor Holsteins. She moves a little more freely on her legs, is slightly more correct in her topline and a touch better in her rear udder. The reserve winner was O Katy, also from Wilcor Holsteins. She is slightly longer and wider and has a little more charisma than the Honourable Mention Loh Tj Chizzy from Loh An Holsteins and Torben Melbaum.

The last selection of the day was already filled with a lot of emotion and was a small preview of the Grand Champion selection that was to follow shortly afterwards. To the rhythmic applause of the spectators, Loh An Holsteins and Torben Melbaum celebrated the victory of Loh Tj Chilli. Jones praised her as the senior cow with the best balance and udder, a cow that may not be the largest, but shows wonderful openness and movement, in addition to her absolute udder qualities. The reserve victory went to MO Loh Inteam from Mersch GbR and Loh An Holsteins. She is an extreme cow with a fabulous udder; her whole body radiates milk type. The Honourable Mention went to GMH Hermine from Kumlehn Holsteins, Steffen Henckel and Eike Spangenberg.

Showdown in the Niedersachsenhalle in Verden: The red carpet is rolled out, the lights are dimmed and three singers perform John Legend's ‘All of Me’ to piano accompaniment as the winning heifer and the winner of the offspring category enter the arena, allowing the approximately 1,800 people in attendance and the 3,200 viewers watching the live stream to take another look at them. 

Finally, to the strains of ‘A Sky Full of Stars’, the winners and reserve winners in the middle and old categories followed, accompanied by spontaneous applause from the impressed audience.

It was an impressive sight at that moment. These wonderful cows on the red carpet and a judge who was clearly moved by the effect. Gary Jones expressed his admiration for the day, the show and the offerings in his closing words: ‘I have goose bumps all over my body at this moment. I would like to thank MASTERRIND for this top-level show, the entire team and, above all, the exhibitors who prepared and presented such great animals to us, in addition to their daily work on the farms.

With everything said, Gary Jones took action one last time. Supported by the audience, he crowned Louella from Wilcor Holsteins in Warmsen as the new Miss Schau der Besten. The reserve winner was O Katy, also from Wilcor Holsteins, much to the delight of Cord Hormann, the breeder behind the prefix, and the entire team. The Honourable Mention went to Loh Tj Chilli from Loh An Holsteins and Torben Melbaum from Emsbüren.