Stable front-runners amongst non-Holstein breeds with new genomic graduates hard on their heels

The dairy breeds other than Holstein see strong stability across the rankings in the genetic evaluations published today by AHDB. 

Ayrshire

VR Venom (pictured right) retains his lead amongst the Ayrshires, improving on his already impressive Profitable Lifetime Index. Having added a few UK milking daughters to his proof, he now earns a PLI of £496, and rates highly for HealthyCow (195), in part due to his outstanding daughter Fertility Index (+15.6).

Also unchanged in rank is second-placed VR Vilano (PLI £437). This bull’s strong daughter Lifespan (LS) of 88 days longer than breed average contributes to the highest EnviroCow index of all available proven sires of the breed (2.8).

Graduating into third place is a former genomic young sire VR Solvarp Hjuve Hosea, with a PLI of £418. Hosea’s Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTA) is particularly high for fat, at 29.3kg and +0.20%.

British-bred Troutbeck Progress remains in fourth position, (PLI £386) and is the highest production bull by some distance. With a PTA of 852kg milk and a combined fat and protein of 65.4kg, he also has good type figures at 1.5 Type Merit.

With a PLI of £380, VR Viking Viljar Vario now ranks fifth and is the strongest udder health bull of the top Ayrshire sires, with -21 SCC and -2 Mastitis.

Jersey

There’s little change at the top of the Jersey rankings, which see JX River Valley Chief holding on to the top spot, with a PLI of £446. He confirms his standing as an extreme production bull but combines this with a lower-than-average daughter Fertility Index.

In contrast, VJ Hoeholt Jern James, who moves into second position, shows good daughter fertility (FI 9.1), but is no match for the production of the leading sire. James also rates well for udder health (-20 SCC, -1 Mastitis).

Climbing into third is VJ Groenberg Lobo Lobster (PLI £435), who transmits high milk solids (+0.36% fat, +0.24% protein) and strong daughter fertility (FI 10.9).

Long-term number one sire River Valley Cece Chrome is now in fourth position, with a PLI of £425. Another high production sire, he also has the strongest PTA for type of the top five, with a Type Merit (TM) of 1.6.

A new entrant in fifth place is former genomic young sire VJ Hoholt Gates Google. This bull’s PLI of £413 is the result of strong udder health (SCC -22) and high fertility (FI 11.5), which also contribute to the highest HealthyCow index amongst the leading Jersey sires, at 170.

Friesian

Within the British Friesian breed, Manorpark Google remains in first place, his PLI of £349 reflecting his transmission of high production, including 475kg milk and an impressive 40.1kg fat and protein combined. As yet, no information is available on his daughter Fertility Index, so a breed average has been used for fertility within his £PLI calculation.

Inch Persistent remains in second place with a PLI of £311. His high HealthyCow index at 225 is a standout feature, which he combines with a TM of 2.49.

Moving up into third place with a PLI of £268 is Dutch-bred Bloemplaat Hoeve Ewoud. This bull transmits strong production (12.6kg fat, 12kg protein), and he lowers daughter cell counts (SCC -11).

With a PLI of £259, Inch Hearty ranks fourth, transmitting longer than breed average lifespan (116) and a good Fertility Index (3.9).

Rounding off the top five is Catlane Cromwell (256 PLI), who has the best Calf Survival index of all proven Friesians, at 5.9.

Marco Winters, head of animal genetics for AHDB, offers a reminder about using PTAs across different breeds, pointing out that each breed’s figures represent a comparison with their own breed average.

"It’s important not to compare one breed with another on these breed-specific lists so for those using a mixture of breeds, it may be better to use an across-breed index, such as the Spring or Autumn Calving Index, depending on the herd’s breeding pattern."

Other breeds

Other dairy breed indexes for Montbéliarde, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Shorthorn and Fleckvieh are published on our website