Female fertility changes ranking
With inclusion of the female fertility index into MDC’s breeding+ PLI rankings, there has been a reshuffling of the UK’s top ranking bulls, particularly those with extreme fertility indexes.
In the Holstein breed, moving up from second in the May rankings to regain top place is German sire Mascol, says MDC’s breeding+ director Marco Winters.
“An improvement in his production and somatic cell count figures has boosted his PLI by £7 to £90.”
In second place is O-Bee Manfred Justice, with a PLI of £84.
“An improved fertility index, which is now -0.8, has helped improve this bull’s rankings making him one of the better bulls for fertility in the top available 50 Holsteins.”
Retaining third place is British bred and proven Picston Shottle, despite dropping £1 in PLI.
With the highest lifespan proof in the top 50, he has improved his SCC proof to -27, indicating a reduction of 27% in SCC in his daughters.
“Type figures released by Holstein UK also place him among the best type bulls in the world,” adds Mr Winters.
Having lost his number one place since the May proofs, Jorryn has now slipped to fourth.
He is the fourth of the three Jocko Besne sons in the top 10, with the second, Kelsetin Kilmer, following behind him.
“Kilmer has a PLI of £76 and is the highest fat and protein percent transmitter in the top 10.”
Sharing fifth place is another UK proven sire Moet Lookout, with 1446 daughters in his production proof he is the highest ranked sire with a reliability of 99%.
Three sires share seventh place with a PLI of £74 – Mccloe-Pond Trent, Ricecrest Boone and Delta Canvas.
Trent is new to the top 10 and Boone moves up from 10th place, but Canvas slips down the rankings from fifth as, despite being the highest production bull in the top 10, he has below average ratings on fertility and lifespan, explains Mr Winters.
In the other breeds, the top Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey and Friesian sires have all held their top spots.
USA-bred Ahlem Lemvig Abe continues to lead the Jersey list with a PLI of £77, followed by Q Impuls, who transmits solid production and reduces SCC in his daughters.
Red Hosltein sire Morwick Sand Ranger Red continues to dominate the Ayrshire proof list, with a PLI of £89 and a type merit of +3.8.
But leading the rankings of pure and hybrid available Ayrshire sires are two Swedish Red bulls – Orraryd is top, with a PLI of £80 and £19 ahead of second placed K Lens.
The International Guernsey list ranked on Guernsey Merit Index continues to be led by the high production bull Jensgold Victory Hunter.
“He leads by four GMI points over Sunninghill Park Royal Oak who climbs 60 GMI points since the May release.”
Leading the Friesian sire rankings is Tittenser Hylke, with a PLI of £65. Mr Winters describes him as combining good production and lifespan proofs in his PLI, which has kept him in top spot.
Hylke is followed closely by Dovea Bass, who is the highest Friesian milk bull available.
The well known and high fat transmitter, Newfailand Mr Frosty closes the top three with a PLI of £53.