Swiss Judge Announced for 2026 Diageo Baileys Cow Competition

Marcel Egli, who is from Switzerland, has been announced as the judge for the 2026 Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow Competition on Wednesday 19 August at the Virginia Show. Widely recognised as one of Ireland's premier dairy livestock competitions, the Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow title is regarded as one of the highest honours for Irish dairy breeders.

Born and raised in Buttisholz, in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, Marcel comes from a family with a long-standing passion for pedigree Holstein breeding. His parents and brother operate the renowned Woodhouse Holsteins herd, comprising around 50 pedigree Holstein cows on a 35-hectare farm, where Marcel developed his knowledge of elite cow families, dairy genetics and stock judging from an early age.

In 2020, Marcel and his wife Fabienne established their own enterprise after taking over Fabienne's family farm in Les Breuleux, in Switzerland's Jura region. Today they manage approximately 25 hectares, rearing around 100 pedigree Holstein replacement heifers, while continuing to work closely with the Woodhouse Holsteins breeding programme to develop elite Holstein genetics renowned for outstanding conformation, production, functionality and longevity.

Alongside farming, Marcel has forged an impressive international career in dairy genetics and breed improvement. Since 2014, he has worked as a Breeding Advisor with Swissherdbook, helping dairy farmers optimise breeding strategies and genetic progress. Marcel has been working at Zuechter-Service AG since May 2026, where he is responsible for the import and export of cattle across Europe. He has judged some of Europe's most prestigious dairy shows and championships across Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

His expertise earned him a place on the European Holstein and Red Holstein Confederation (EHRC) Judges Panel, placing him among Europe's elite Holstein judges. In 2024, he was selected to judge the National Holstein Show at UK Dairy Day, one of Britain's most prestigious pedigree dairy events.

Marcel has also managed the show team for the internationally acclaimed Ptit Coeur Holsteins, one of Switzerland's leading exhibition herds, and is a partner in Genetics Sale, a specialist company organising elite dairy cattle sales across Europe, where he also serves as an auctioneer.

The Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow Competition, sponsored by Diageo Ireland, producers of Baileys Irish Cream, in partnership with Tirlán, celebrates breeding excellence, outstanding herdsmanship and the commitment of farming families that underpins Ireland's world-leading dairy industry. The long-standing partnership continues to showcase the quality, care and dedication of dairy farmers across the island of Ireland, while recognising the very best in pedigree dairy breeding.

Members of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) and Holstein NI have until 12 August to enter online via the Virginia Show website.

First Published: 7 August 2026