Bull proofs sees return to top spot for one entry

There has been a general shuffling of the genomic pack within the top 20.

The number one bull is De-Su RB Moonray (Robust x Planet x Shottle), an outstanding fat transmitter (PTA fat 44.5kg) with solid fitness and type, who was ranked in fourth position in the previous index run, and now weighs in with a hefty Profitable Lifetime Index of £279. As a son of Roylane Socra Robust, Moonray is one of five sons of this bull in the top 20. Robust himself is in part responsible for his genomic sons’ rise, as he now has his first milking daughters contributing to his index, which is 19 PLI points above his earlier prediction.

Welcome Armitage Pesky has risen from number 12 into second position, also gaining ground as the index contribution of his sire, RMW Armitage, improves. With a PLI of £274, Pesky also has the highest daughter Fertility Index in the top 10 at +7.1.

Third ranking Parile Locarno (Pierre x Man-O-Man) has risen from seventh position with solid all-round figures and a PLI of £268, while in fourth position, Rosylane-LLC Altabarney edges downwards from his former number one position and now has a PLI of £266.

Sharing the number four position is another son of Robust – Melarry Robust Miles – who climbs from just outside the top 20. Out of a dam by Mr Regal Creek Shot Al, he’s a whisker ahead of Mr Chartroi Eloquent. This Lavaman x Planet has a PLI of £265 and a massive PTA protein at 30.7kg.

In seventh position is Ladys-Manor Graf La-Bron, a Grafeeti son from a Super dam who has a predicted daughter Lifespan Index of +0.6 and a PLI of £263.

A handful of new names have also made their debut, with two brand new entries ranking in eighth and ninth position.

The first being De-Su 11236 Balisto (Bookem x Watson from Pine-Tree Missy Miranda) with a PLI of £260, while the second is the best SCC transmitter in the top 10, Morningview Liftoff. Liftoff is another Armitage son, and has a PLI of £259 and an SCC Index of -30.

Rounding off the top 10 is another Robust son, Sully Altamerci, a maternal grandson of Planet, whose PLI is £258. Planet has featured heavily in the sire stacks of high ranking young genomic bulls, and his appearance as maternal grandsire of 10 of the top 20 bulls shows just how quickly an outcross sire – which Planet was initially considered to be – becomes a common feature of pedigrees.

Commenting on the latest proofs geneticist Marco Winters from DairyCo says:

“Genomic indexes have certainly allowed breeding to move quickly and this ranking continues to show they offer the potential for Holstein breeders to make rapid genetic improvement.”

“The top seven bulls in this ranking all have PLIs above the number one sire on the daughter-proven list, suggesting that farmers who eschew genomic bulls altogether are missing out on worthwhile potential gain.

“We have been calculating genomic indexes in the UK for over a year and during that time they have proven to be more reliable that the earliest predictions suggested,” he says.

“So, while I’d always urge a degree of caution, and the selection of a group of young genomic bulls rather than reliance on just a few, I would recommend all dairy producers add a carefully selected group to their breeding programmes.”

The three extra points for Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) earned by Guarini see this Goldwyn son move up from number two position to head the new ranking, and he continues to transmit exceptionally low daughter cell counts alongside good production and type. His PLI is £262.

The appearance of two UK-bred and proven bulls in the top five is a credit to the domestic progeny testing programmes, as Cogent Twist edges up to second position with a PLI of £256 ahead of Ballycairn Oman Pello, ranked third (PLI £252). Both bulls exceed 40kg fat in their Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTA), Twist with higher components and Pello with a larger volume of milk. Twist has the distinction of being the highest ranking Shottle son while Pello is the biggest protein improver with a massive 34kg – both against all international sires.

Former number one sire, Whitman Oman Awesome Andy is edged into fourth position (PLI £248), but is the highest daughter lifespan improver in the top 10 and also strong on his daughter Fertility Index, with scores of +0.6 and +6.8 respectively.

Another fertility improver (Fertility Index +6.3) is the equal fourth ranking Morningview Levi, but beneath him, Crockett-Acres Eight has put in a remarkable performance for daughter fertility and makes his re-entry to the top 10 with a PLI of £243. This is thanks to a large influx of UK daughters that have lifted his Fertility Index to a massive +12.0.

Lynbrook Jancen shares sixth place with Eight, and is followed by another high climber Bakombre (PLI £235), thanks to many more daughters in his German proof. Bakombre is a Baxter from the same family as ALH Dakota, who ranks ninth, with a PLI of £233.

Level-pegging with Dakota and rounding off the top 10 is the highest new entry, in the shape of Danish-born Roskilde. This bull is an early son of Roumare (himself a son of the popular Jocko Besne) from the well-known Grietje-family. He transmits the high solids for which the family is well known.

Other high ranking UK-proven bulls

Beneath the high-fliers in the top 10, UK names to note include Laurelhill Classic, an Oman son with superb fitness traits, and the new entry, Sherdon Irresistable, both with a PLI of £225. Irresistable’s unique pedigree of Cogent Maestro x Zelati x Hairy Breiz provides a refreshing outcross in this ranking.

Another new entry is the Oman son, ABS Simon (PLI £221), and the final British bull in the top 25 is the well-known Ballycairn Tiergan at PLI £218.

Marco Winters, head of DairyCo Breeding+ says the combination of stability in the rankings and a good showing of UK-proven bulls is particularly encouraging and – with such a wide choice of sires, especially those strong on health and fitness traits – he urges breeders to look in detail at their figures.

“It’s not just about the headline PTAs, but it’s important that UK producers know the source of the information they’re using,” he says.

“It’s for this reason that we have introduced an advertising code this month which has been signed by all the major AI companies, and which we hope will ensure breeders receive the most appropriate and meaningful information.

“With more sires than ever in the system – some with genomic and others with daughter-proven figures – this new code should ensure breeders are aware of exactly the type of dairy sire they are considering.”

Meanwhile among the other breeds, it is the Jersey ranking that captures most attention, with the high fat and protein transmitter, VJ Lure, gaining 17 Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) points to take the top spot. With a PLI of £218 and transmitting almost 50kg fat plus protein, this bull is also predicted to lower daughter cell counts and improve their fertility. A son of DJ Lirsk, VJ Lure pushes the former leaders into joint second place, as both DJ Broiler and DJ Hulk have a PLI of £215.

In the Friesian ranking, Deangate Tarquin maintains his lead with a PLI of £200 and sees his daughter lifespan figures further improve to +0.5. This gives him a comfortable lead over Morcourt Hilton (PLI £175), while edging up from fourth to third place is Lakemead Randolf (PLI £165). Daughter fertility improver Langley Evolution also moves up (PLI £156) thanks to an increase in his Lifespan Index, while there’s a new entrant in fifth position in the shape of Raheenarran BCG Sochar. With a PLI of £153, this Irish bull from a mating of Glen Albyn x Hylke is especially strong in protein components at +0.13%.

The pure Ayrshire list sees three Finnish-bred sires lead the way, with the Miqur son, V Foske, taking the number one position with a PLI of £204, ahead of his Kelli-sired stablemate, Gunnarstorp, in second (PLI £191). Asmo Andrei, a Miqur grandson ranks third, while the Swedish bull, Pell Pers is in fourth position (PLI £169). The highest UK-bred sire on the pure Ayrshire list is Stamford First Quality with a PLI of £97.

The Brown Swiss ranking sees a familiar number one with Huray holding on to the top position. He now has a strong £236 PLI and continues to improve his Lifespan Index to an impressive +0.7. Second and third bulls have switched places since the April ranking, with Vinold earning a PLI of £196 and Hilltop Acres H Driver weighing in with £171.

The Montbeliarde breed’s top ranking bull is once again Odislait (PLI £168), while there’s a new number one for Guernsey Merit Index in the shape of Beechgroves Ezekiel with a GMI of 421. The Shorthorns retain Cotley Custodian as their number one bull with a PLI of £161.

Mr Winters warns genetic indexes should not be compared directly across breeds.

“DairyCo supplies specific conversion formulae for those who want to compare one breed with another for cross-breeding purposes.”

“The figures for each breed are calculated to relate to that breed average, so comparing figures across breeds would be both meaningless and potentially misleading.

“DairyCo supplies specific conversion formulae for those who want to compare one breed with another for cross-breeding purposes.”