New entrant Coyote tops latest Holstein genomic rankings

Exceptional weight and percentage of fat (62.2kg and +0.3%) have earned a UK-born and bred bull top place in AHDB’s genetic evaluations for genomic Holstein sires (published 2 December).

New entrant DeNovo Coyote P, a son of Klassic P, has a profitable lifetime index (PLI) of £871 and a HealthyCow index of £157.

Just behind Coyote is Badger Siemers Day Trip. This Sheepster son moves up to second place with a PLI of £870 and a daughter lifespan score of +180 days, maintenance score of -22 and somatic cell count (SCC) of -20.

Another Sheepster son, Progenesis Preston, is in third place with a PLI of £867 and protein transmission of 41.7kg.

See also: Advice on drying off high-yielding cows

Feed efficiency

Moving up to fourth place is Leeds son DeNovo 20723 Columbia (PLI £864), excelling in milk yield (1,140kg) and with a feed advantage (FAdv) of 240kg. This means Columbia daughters are expected to consume 240kg less dry matter in each lactation than daughters of a bull transmitting comparable milk production with a FAdv of zero.

Adaway Beyond Fitness completes the top five with a PLI of £862, a high daughter fertility index of +10, and a HealthyCow index of £205.

Joint sixth-placed Peak AltaValuepack (down from first place) and Adaway Beyond Faithful also score well for HealthyCow traits, while new entrant DeNovo Charisma (PLI £856), in eighth, has the best HealthyCow index of the top 10, at £221.

Newcomer Hendel Manson (PLI £853) is predicted to perform well for lameness advantage (LAdv) (+3.1) and FAdv (214kg). And DeNovo 20893 Harmony (PLI £845), in tenth, has the best environmental credentials of the breed, with an EnviroCow score of 4.8 and the best FAdv of the top 20, at 291kg.

“All top bulls in this young sire ranking are predicted to transmit improved feed maintenance thanks to smaller body sizes – a highly desirable trait that reduces feed costs and contributes to a lower carbon footprint,” says AHDB head of animal genetics Marco Winters.

OCD Trooper Sheepster daughter © John Erbsen

Proven Holstein sires

OCD Trooper Sheepster maintains his lead at the top of the genetic evaluations for daughter-proven Holstein sires. His improved PLI of £783 reflects increases in predicted transmitting abilities for fat – now 52.7kg – and the lifespan of daughters, which are expected to live 110 days longer than average.

This bull’s EnviroCow score of +4.1 makes him joint breed leader for environmental credentials for all proven sires.

Second place is also unchanged. Peak AltaSeverus (PLI £764) excels in daughter fertility (+12.7) and udder health (SCC -2, mastitis -2) and has a HealthyCow index of £185.

Peak Powerhouse is a new entrant in third place. His PLI of £746 represents the highest milk transmission in the top 10 (1,067kg); he also delivers extreme protein (43.3kg).

Fourth-placed SDG-PH Delux Dominance combines high fat (51.2kg, +0.21%) with a PLI of £744, making him a good choice for herds looking to increase milk solids production. And in fifth, Plain-Knoll Renegad Trooper (PLI £710) is one of the breed’s top lifespan bulls, at +171 days.

VJ Outrun Luxplus Leander © Alex Arkink

Jersey sires

VJ Outrup Luxplus Leander (PLI £468) leads the top young genomic Jersey sires, offering the highest EnviroCow score in the rankings (+2.8) alongside excellent production (260kg milk, 44.2kg fat plus protein).

Climbing to second place is VJ Juulsgaard Happens Harder (PLI £460), transmitting high milk quality (+0.31% fat, +0.2% protein) and a daughter fertility index of +6.4. Former leader VJ Husted Splash Sultan (PLI £449) is in third with a daughter lifespan score of +94 days and the highest HealthyCow (£136) and daughter fertility index (+8) in the rankings.

VJ Outrup Luxi Luxplus (PLI £518) leads the Jersey proven sires with an outstanding EnviroCow score of 3.1. He is ahead of newcomer VJ Adelgaard Nibiru Nicas (HealthyCow £129, EnviroCow 2.4) and VJ Nr Haugaard Hays Hauga (HealthyCow £189, lifespan +97 days and daughter fertility of +11.3).

Young genomic Friesian sires

Goonhilly Coverack (PLI £332) remains in first place in the Friesian genomic young sire rankings. He leads the list for milk quality (0.15% fat, 0.12% protein) while offering excellent fertility (+4.1).

Second place is also unchanged: Bankhouse Distinction (PLI 313) combines outstanding health (HealthyCow £160, Lifespan +98 days) with the breed’s top EnviroCow score of 1.0. Rising to third place is all-rounder Pritch Coverman (PLI £304), with excellent udder health (mastitis -2, SCC -5).

Ayrshire and Friesian proven sires

All-rounder VR Wehmais Vimo Vehmaa (PLI £545) keeps top spot in the proven Ayrshire sires, with a HealthyCow index of £154. He is ahead of Tontine Astorwell (PLI £502) and third-ranked VR Hakvin (PLI £481), both of whom have an EnviroCow score of +2.9.

© Bloemplaat Hoeve Ewoud © Alger-Meekma

In the Friesian breed ranking for proven sires, Bloemplaat Hoeve Ewoud (PLI £298) moves from second to first place. Ewoud has strong milk solids yields (12.6kg fat, 10.6kg protein), excellent SCC (-12) and a high daughter fertility index of 6.9.

Goonhilly Isaac (PLI £277) moves into second place with exceptional milk quality (0.14% fat, 0.14% protein); he also shares the top EnviroCow score in the rankings (1.7) with third-placed Inch Next (PLI £270). This former number one sire is a high-production transmitter delivering 307kg milk with 25.3kg fat plus protein.

Block-calving indexes

Jerseys fare particularly well in the latest spring calving index (SCI). VJ Outrup Luxi Luxplus (SCI £606) leads the across-breed ranking with exceptional daughter maintenance and extended lifespan.

Former frontrunner Holstein bull Peak AltaSeverus (SCI £596), now in second place, remains a leader for weight of milk, fat and protein, while third-placed Denovo Invictus (SCI £589) continues to impress with low cell counts and outstanding fertility in his daughters.

In fourth, Jersey bull VJ Agarden Lutter Ludo (SCI £588) excels in milk quality, just ahead of Holstein Denovo Adderley (SCI £585), who also delivers desirable fat and protein.

Peak AltaSeverus remains top of the autumn calving index (ACI) ranking (ACI £736), combining exceptionally healthy daughters with high milk and solids production. New graduate Peak Altasolace, in second place (ACI £686), is similarly versatile, offering excellent fertility and SCC improvement.

Winstar Graziano retains third spot (ACI £683), ahead of Denovo Invictus (ACI £680) and Lars-Acres George Miller (ACI £669).

For the complete list of available bulls, see AHDB’s dairy breeding and genetics website.