The 13th general meeting of the Maine-Anjou Association Germany e.V. (MAVD) took place in mid-June at Katharina and Norbert Meinikmann’s in Steinfurt. The Meinikmann family is currently restructuring their business and is in the process of building up a Maine-Anjou herdbook stock.

In beautiful sunshine, everyone met for coffee and cake on the Meinikmann family farm. In his welcoming speech, Norbert Meinikmann greeted 15 Maine-Anjou breeders and interested parties who had traveled from all over Germany and Luxembourg (see group photo).

The Meinikmann family first introduced their business and the animals, which come from both French and German breeding.

The Meinikmann family presented cows with this year’s calf year. Norbert Meinikmann was particularly enthusiastic about the calves from the insemination, especially the animals produced by the bull MALIN, which were sure to delight. Heifers and a young bull from this father could also be admired.

Before dinner, there was a lecture by Ms. Fides Kersting (Rinder-Union West e.G.) about the myostatin gene and its different variants. Ms. Kersting explained the different double-legged types that are caused by mutations in the myostatin gene across all breeds.

The following general meeting went quickly. The MAVD enjoyed steady growth last year, so that this great breed of cattle is finding its way into more and more stables. The MAVD board’s motion to appoint Antoine Hild as an honorary member was unanimously accepted. In the laudation that followed, Reimund Lesen (2nd chairman) recognized Antoine Hild’s special services to German Maine-Anjou breeding and in particular the expansion and intensification of cross-border cooperation (see award of honorary membership).

Finally, we would like to thank the Meinikmann family once again for hosting this year’s general meeting with the great hospitality and the opportunity to look at excellent animals and genetics.

We are already looking forward to our next general meeting on June 7th, 2025, this time in Heimborn, Rhineland-Palatinate. You are welcome to mark the date in your calendar and, as always, interested guests are welcome to attend.

Hans-Volkert Otzen
President of the Maine-Anjou Verband Deutschland e.V. (MAVD)