Top-ranking bull Lorenzo offers strong health and longevity

Peak Powerhouse, the top proven Holstein sire © Lea Jordan/Cybil Fischer Photography

A lifespan index 174 days longer than the average and a strong lameness advantage have earned new entrant Denovo 22750 Lorenzo top spot in the AHDB’s latest rankings for young Holstein sires.

See also: Advice on managing transition for better cow fertility

Lorenzo, a son of Leeds, has a profitable lifetime index (PLI) of £874. He is predicted to transmit good daughter fertility and udder health, and has a HealthyCow score of £254 – the predicted saving he will pass on to his daughters compared with a bull scoring £0.

The next six positions in the ranking, published on 7 April, also feature new entrants.

Second-placed Peak AltaRotation (PLI £867) has a predicted transmitting ability (PTA) for protein of +0.14% and 37.3kg. Peak AltaFanbase (PLI £854), in third place, transmits +0.24% butterfat and has a maintenance score of -30kg.

This contributes to a feed advantage of 291kg – which is the dry matter intake predicted to be saved during each lactation – and a breed-leading EnviroCow score of +4.8.

Peak AltaVaughn (PLI £853), in fourth, has a high fertility index of +10.8 and transmits strong milk solids (+0.3% fat and +0.15% protein).

Fifth-placed Denovo 6856 Hotshot (PLI £856) also transmits high milk solids, while Genosource Judo (PLI £845), in sixth, is among the highest milk yield transmitters, at 1,239kg.

Completing the line-up of newcomers is OCD Sheepster Mike (PLI £828), in seventh place, with a maintenance score of -23kg.

“These top-performing genetics offer a permanent and cumulative route to improved efficiency,” says the AHBD’s head of animal genetics, Marco Winters. “Selecting sires with high PLI, strong health and productivity traits, and improved feed advantage supports the breeding of cows that cost less to feed, remain productive for longer and reduce carbon intensity.”

Shake-up in spring calving index

VJ Boman Lasky Lando © Alex Arkink

The newly recalibrated spring calving index (SCI) places greater emphasis on energy efficiency, fertility, health and functional traits to better reflect the needs of UK spring-calving herds.

With an SCI of £448 and exceptional maintenance, fertility and udder health, Jersey sire VJ Boman Lasky Lando moves into top place in this ranking.

In second place is Holstein-bred Denovo Invictus (SCI £408), with excellent fertility, favourable somatic cell count (SCC) and an expanding UK daughter base.

Jersey bull VJ Kjoelby Higher Highplan (SCI £398), a leader for milk quality, is in third.

VJ Outrup Luxi Luxplus sits just behind in fourth (SCI £397), offering good longevity, while VJ Ravninggaard Huus Hamlet (SCI £393) is in fifth place, excelling in daughter health.

Winstar Graziano holds top place in the autumn calving index (ACI) rankings (ACI £555), with excellent milk components and strong SCC performance.

Moving into second is Winstar Maserati (ACI £547), with high milk solids transmission, while third-ranked Denovo Invictus (ACI £528) and fourth-placed FB 442861 Knighton P (ACI £520) score well for fertility and maintenance. SDG-PH Delux Dominance excels in milk solids and ranks fifth (ACI £515).

Proven Holstein sires

Topping the proven Holstein sire ranking is Peak Powerhouse (PLI £768), thanks to PTAs including 1,111kg milk and 98kg combined fat and protein.

Long-standing top performer Genosource Captain (PLI £726), now with more than 3,500 UK milking daughters, is in second place, with a maintenance score of -30kg and a TB Advantage of 3.5%.

Former number one sire OCD Trooper Sheepster is now in third place (PLI £711), ahead of SDG-PH Delux Dominance (PLI £698). Both transmit high weights of fat, while Dominance also offers strong fertility.

Fifth place goes to new entrant Denovo 18514 Orchard (PLI £677), with a lameness advantage of +3% and good milk production (1,026kg).

For the complete list of available bulls, visit the AHDB website.