Top genetic value from new young sire

A new high health and efficiency young sire has entered the running in the genomic index ranking, published today by AHDB. 

Taking the lead by a whisker, with a Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) of £877, Peak AltaValuepack (sired by Peak Excitement) claims the top spot thanks to a well-balanced profile featuring strong health traits.

These contribute to a high HealthyCow rating of £203, meaning he is predicted to transmit £203 worth of health and fertility benefits on average to his daughters; a favourable Maintenance Index of -17, indicating his daughters will require less feed for maintenance; and solid Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) for production, including +0.17% fat and +0.10% protein.

With a PLI of £876, Denovo 20771 Segment (sired by Leeds) edges up to second position, with an impressive Calf Survival rating of +2.6.

The number one sire from the previous ranking, Denovo 20893 Harmony, is bumped into third position (PLI £875), although there is little in £PLI between the top three sires. Harmony continues to excel in PTAs for weight of milk (1,116 kg), fat (54.6 kg) and protein (41.3 kg), as well as feed efficiency (-28 Maintenance, 294 Feed Advantage), and he retains the highest score for EnviroCow (+5).

Progenesis Preston holds firm in fourth with a PLI of £862, delivering high milk solids (54.3 kg fat, 41.5 kg protein), while fifth-ranking Denovo 20723 Columbia (PLI £856) is one of the highest yield transmitters. He passes on 1135 kg milk and, like his sire, Leeds, a strong Feed Advantage. At 237, this means his daughters will save 237 kg of dry matter intake during each lactation.

Badger Siemers Day Trip moves up to sixth (PLI £855), offering exceptional lifespan (+171 days) and udder health (-2 Mastitis, -19 SCC), which contribute to a HealthyCow of £220.

Denovo 22192 Sector-P, a maternal half-brother to Segment, is the highest fat transmitter available (59.9 kg, +0.27%). He shares seventh place (PLI £853) with newcomer Adaway Beyond El Foughty (Elvin x Parsly), who combines strong milk components (+0.28% fat, +0.15% protein) with outstanding daughter fertility (+8.4) and the highest HealthyCow in the top 20 at £241.

Another new entry, Adaway Beyond Fitness, a maternal half-brother to Foughty, performs even better for Fertility Index (+8.7) and transmits good lifespan (+137). His PLI is £851.

Rounding off the top 10 is Denovo 0478 Colter P, a climber with an excellent milk PTA (1190kg) and a PLI of £845.

Marco Winters, Head of Animal Genetics at AHDB, said:

"It’s encouraging to see such good stability among the top 20 £PLI sires in AHDB’s latest analysis, with several bulls maintaining strong positions and some exciting new entries offering fresh genetics. This gives farmers a robust and diverse selection to build into their breeding plans for the upcoming season."

Other notable new entries in the top 20 include:

• Peak AltaRegalcrown (PLI £840, 14th), transmitting high protein (+41.5 kg)
• Peak AltaUpgrade and Peak AltaMaximino (PLI £835, joint fifteenth). AltaUpgrade excels in fat percent (+0.42%), while AltaMaximino leads on protein percent (+0.19%) and has the highest Fertility Index in the top 20 at +10.7
• Denovo 22930 Highlife P (PLI £831, 19th), transmitting high fat (+0.37%) and a superb HealthyCow of £234

Peak Altavaluepack