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With Markus Mock A
s the final selections are decided for the Holstein UK team heading to the European ChampionshipsThe Journal has been in touch with Holstein judge Markus Mock to get an insight in to the man in the middle of the ring. Markus runs the 135-head Mox herd at Lake Constance in the South of Germany, close to the Austrian and Swiss Alps with his wife Kerstin and children Johannes, 16, Katharina, 12, and Benedikt, 5.
What type of cow do you aim to breed? We love balanced, high productive cows and that is what we aim to breed. Well attached and wide mammary, good locomotion and good rump structure are our main goals.
What are the main achievements of your own herd? We have had three German National Champions in the past. Two were homebred, Mox Rubens Dream EX93 and her daughter. Elysa Dundee Cleo EX93 was a member of the third placed German team at the European Championship in Fribourg 2013, where Mark Nutsford’s cow Wölkchen won her class, we sold Wölkchen to England before the show.
In 2015 and 2016 Mox Shottle Domenica was reserve intermediate champion at the famous Swiss Expo. This cow was sold through our bi-annual Mox Sale, we hold the sale on farm and sell about 50 top animals.
Maybe the most famous cow we bred is Mox Kite Maryrose Red EX90, a former honourable mention Champion at Swiss Expo and one of the best type- brood cows for red genetics in Europe. Several of her daughters and granddaughters became class winners and champions at Swiss Expo and Expo Bulle.
Do you sell many cattle? Each year we sell about 35 breeding bulls, 50 really good commercial type young cows, about 60 embryos and elite animals from time to time. The establishment of our own sale is important for us and we look forward to the fifth Mox Type and Utility Sale on September 3rd this year.
How do you feel about the honour of judging the European Championships? The opportunity to judge the European Show is definitely the greatest honour. You should never expect to judge any show and I certainly didn’t expect to be asked. I am grateful and full of humility at being invited to judge the European Championships.
What is your previous judging experience? I have judged many shows in Europe during the last 10 years, in almost all countries from Finland to Portugal. I’ve also taken part in the German and European Judging Schools over the years.
What are the highlights of your judging career?
The German National Show, The European Dairy Show Montichiari, The British National Show during the Dairy Event, Dairy Grand Prix Austria, two National Brown Swiss Shows in Switzerland and many more.
What are you looking for in a winning cow or heifer?
Balance and beauty. That´s about it.
What is your favourite cow of all time? A cow I will never forget is Taraley Astro Sherry EX97 from Pamtom Farms. I saw her in 1994 and was so disappointed that she did not win any of the big shows, she was ahead of her time.
Where has been the best show of dairy cattle you have ever seen? I haven’t been to North America for the last 10 years because of being busy at our family farm most of the time. But I visit Swiss Expo every year. It is getting stronger and deeper every year. I just appreciate that so much. The quality of the animals is just incredible. We love it.
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