Leading proven Holstein sires deliver high kilos of milk solids

Number one place on the Holstein proven sire rankings, published today by AHDB, has been taken by Peak Powerhouse.

Daughters of this exceptional production bull help earn him a Profitable Lifetime Index of £768, thanks to Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) which include 1,111kg milk and 98kg combined fat and protein.

In second place is long‑standing top performer, Genosource Captain, now with more than 3,500 UK milking daughters contributing to his evaluation.

His solid production profile, favourable maintenance feed score of -30 and a particularly strong TB Advantage of 3.5 reinforce his proven reliability. He now has a PLI of £726.

The last release’s number one sire, OCD Trooper Sheepster, now ranks third with a PLI of £711, just ahead of SDG‑PH Delux Dominance, holding firm in fourth (PLI £698).

Like the two leading sires, both Sheepster and Dominance transmit high weights of fat (49.6kg and 50.5kg respectively) with Dominance also offering a strong Fertility Index of 5.7.

The first new entrant in the top 10 is Denovo 18514 Orchard, a son of Alladin. With a PLI of £677, Orchard confirms his genomic promise as a high milk sire (1,026kg) and also delivers a positive Lameness Advantage of 3.

Rising to sixth place is Plain‑Knoll Renegad Trooper (PLI £675), notable for his strong Lifespan Index with 137 extra days predicted and a HealthyCow of £155.

Next is Winstar Graziano, now supported by 95 UK milking daughters. He excels in milk quality, transmitting +0.33% fat and +0.15% protein, alongside improved udder health reflected in lower cell counts at -24 SCC.

OCD Deluxe T Rex ranks eighth (PLI £666), showing strong udder health and reducing mastitis (-1), with excellent calf survival (+3.1).

In ninth place, Winstar Maserati P takes a significant step up the rankings, now with more than 600 UK milking daughters. With a PLI £665, Maserati transmits high fat (48.2kg, +0.38%) and an outstanding Fertility Index of 9.1, contributing to a HealthyCow of £172.

Completing the top 10 is Cogent Koepon Rocky, a new entry for UK‑bred genetics. This Captain son, with 304 UK daughters, mirrors his sire’s strengths in feed efficiency, including a maintenance score of -25 and a strong Feed Advantage of 189.

Marco Winters, head of animal genetics, AHDB, said:

“It’s to be expected that these older genetics lag a little behind the new generation of young sires, but these leading proven sires have demonstrated how they can deliver on production, many transmitting exceptional milk solids.

"Those producers who prefer to keep a complement of proven sires on their service list will see their effects in the bulk tank, although these older sires are generally unable to keep pace with the exceptional health and efficiency now being offered by the younger generation."

The new number one Peak Powerhouse