New entries hot on heels of top genomic young sires

Low maintenance costs, high milk solids and strong environmental credentials characterise the top four bulls in the latest AHDB Holstein young sire rankings, launched on 1 April 2025.

Unchanged since last December, they are all Denovo 2776 Leeds sons and are led by Denovo 20893 Harmony.

He is the best EnviroCow bull of the breed and the top scorer for Feed Advantage (FAdv) (290).

His predicted transmitting abilities (PTAs) of 1,121kg for milk yield and 41.2kg for protein yield are achieved by efficient, smaller daughters (-28 maintenance).

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AOT Jared Haskel, dam of Denovo Harmony and Denovo Hype © Cybil Fisher

Harmony’s profitable lifetime index (PLI) of £881 takes in the routine annual base adjustment, implemented by AHDB this April, which has reduced PLI figures by an average of £56 for Holsteins.

Denovo 20723 Columbia (PLI £876) now ranks second with equally strong production ratings and strong udder health (-16 somatic cell count (SCC) and -2 mastitis).

In third place is T-Spruce Denovo Zest (PLI £870), and Denovo 20771 Segment (PLI £855) ranks fourth.

Also notable, with the best lifespan (LS) transmission in the top 20, at 165 days, is seventh-placed Badger Siemens Day Trip (PLI £845).

He breeds efficient, smaller cows with good SCC (-19) and has a high HealthyCow rating of £202.

 Progenesis Preston © Holly McFarlane

New entries

While the leading four bulls are unchanged, there are four new entries in the top 10. Progenesis Preston, in fifth place, is a high protein transmitter (40.7kg), which he combines with a type merit of 1.13.

Close behind is Denovo 22192 Sector-P, half-brother to Segment. He transmits the highest weight of fat of the breed, at 61.3kg (+0.28%).

Another new entrant, in eighth place, is Badger SSI GMPLN Mugworth (PLI £836).

He scores well for udder health (-24 SCC and -2 mastitis) and has an impressive Lameness Advantage (LAdv) of 4.6.

And new at ninth is Denovo 20747 Hype, maternal half-brother to Harmony, with a PLI of £832.

Denovo 15969 Atlantis © Beth Herges

“With the top bulls ranked on PLI also scoring exceptionally well for EnviroCow, the daughters they breed should make further inroads into the feed conversion efficiency and environmental credentials of any dairy farming business that uses them,” says Marco Winters, head of animal genetics at AHDB.

Proven bulls

High transmission of fat (51.4kg, +0.32%) and a good score for lameness (LAdv 4.1) have put Atrium son Denovo 15969 Atlantis (PLI £717) top of the daughter-proven Holstein sire rankings.

Long-term leading sire Genosource Captain (PLI £716) is close behind, with milk yield at 1,079kg and a maintenance score of -29.

Plain-Knoll Renegad Trooper (PLI £713) has climbed to third place, with an LS of +137 days and a type merit of 1.98.

And Westcoast River ranks fourth (PLI £703), with the highest HealthyCow in the top 20, of £288, strong daughter fertility (10.2) and excellent udder health transmission (SCC -32, mastitis -4).

“Although [these bulls] won’t deliver the quick genetic uplift many producers are seeking, the reliability of their indexes – some now at over 90% – provides reassurance of their breeding potential,” says Marco.

Denovo Invictus Firework, a daughter of Denovo Invictus © Jane Steel

Seasonal indexes

The latest across-breed spring calving index (SCI) puts two Holstein sires in top place.

Denovo Invictus and Progenesis Ascend (SCI £592) both offer good udder health, while Invictus also transmits strong daughter fertility.

Winstar Graziano (SCI £579) ranks third, ahead of the highest placed Jersey, VJ Boman Lasky Lando (SCI £566), with very low maintenance costs, exceptional daughter fertility and high-quality milk.

The autumn calving index (ACI) has one new entrant in the top 10: Progenesis Ascend (ACI £701) goes straight into first place with exceptional fat yields and a favourable maintenance index.

Winstar Graziano (ACI £693) remains in the top two, while Peak Mauney and Denovo Invictus share third place, both with outstanding daughter fertility.

Other breeds

British Friesian sire Inch Next, from the Northern Irish Inch herd, is new at number one for this breed’s PLI rankings (PLI £334). Inch Next transmits strong udder health (SCC -5, mastitis -3) and has an EnviroCow score of 1.9.

In second place, Bloemplaat Hoeve Ewoud (PLI £307) also excels in udder health (SCC -11), while Dalino (PLI £299) moves into third with an SCC of -15.

The Friesian genomic young sire rankings remain largely unchanged, with Wyevalley Veritas holding on to first place, sporting a strong HealthyCow score of £157.

Goonhilly Coverack (PLI £313) stays in second place, while Beaufort Supersonic climbs to third (PLI £306).

The top Jersey and Ayrshire rankings also remain stable.

VJ Kibsgaard Jocko Jojo tops the Jerseys (PLI £500), with excellent LS (+100 days) and good mastitis resistance (-2), while UK-bred Ayrshire Tontine Astorwell retains top place for the third consecutive time (PLI £543) with an impressive EnviroCow rating of 3.

Dairy breed indexes for Montbeliarde, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Shorthorn and Fleckvieh are also available.

The complete list of available bulls is on the AHDB website.