Holstein proofs led by udder health improver

A top somatic cell count improver bull heads up the latest top 20 Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) ranking, with a new UK-proven Oman son also making an appearance.

The number one position is taken by Guarini, a Goldwyn son whose Somatic Cell Count Index has improved to an impressive -32, making him amongst the best of the Holstein breed for udder health. He combines this with good Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) for production and type, earning him a PLI of £253.

The Buckeye son Morningview Levi edges into second (from first) position, but maintains his strong figures for fitness. Good daughter fertility (Fertility Index +5.4) and particularly impressive calving ability (both direct and maternal), combine with high production PTAs to earn him a PLI of £247.

Holding on to third position is components specialist, Lynbrook Jancen (PLI £236) while moving up to fourth is Whitman O Man Awesome Andy (PLI £235) whose Lifespan Index at +0.7 is the best of the breed.

Shottle son, Cogent Twist moves into the top five with a PLI of £229 based on performance by 82 daughters in 51 herds. Twist becomes the number one UK-proven bull and improves on his impressive figure for kg fat, now with a breed-leading 39.9kg.

Also UK-bred and the only new bull in the top 10 is Ballycairn Oman Pello (Oman cross Goldwyn), with a PLI of £228. The Skalsumer Pietje family from which Pello descends needs little introduction, having produced the legendary Sunny Boy, while Andrew McCollum’s Northern Ireland Ballycairn herd builds on its growing reputation, having produced more UK-proven bulls over the past three years than any other herd, from a variety of strong cow families.

Like his dam, Ballycairn Goldwyn Pietje EX92, Pello’s PTA features high volumes (864kg) of high quality milk including an impressive 29.7kg protein and positive components. With 26 daughters in 21 herds, he is one to watch closely as more daughters are added, although his reliability is strengthened by the genomic information which is incorporated in his indexes.

Four risers round off the top 10 in the shape of Mainstream Manifold (PLI £225), D Omar (£222), Gomez (PLI £222 and with the highest daughter Fertility Index in the top 20) and ALH Dakota (PLI £221 and still with the highest volume of milk in the top 20).

Bulls ranked by PLI