UK-bred bulls get four out of 10 places in MDC breeding+'s new line-up
UK-bred Holstein bulls have achieved their best result yet in the latest sire rankings published today (13 February) by MDC breeding+. In fourth place is newly-proven UK sire Netherside Dynamo. The only new addition to the top 10 Holstein rankings, Dynamo has a £PLI of 76. The dam of this good components Decision son graduated successfully from the Cogent nucleus herd.
Dynamo is just £5 behind the new number one, Mtoto son Mascol. With an improvement to his components, lifespan proof and somatic cell counts German-bred Mascol has added seven points to his £PLI, taking him through the 80 point barrier to a £PLI of 81.
The other three UK-bred sires in the top 10 all share 8th place with a £PLI of 71. They are MOET Lookout, who like Dynamo is the direct result of UK nucleus breeding - in this case run by Genus - and who has doubled his daughter number to 330 with second crop daughters, Picston Shottle who re-joins the top 10, and Watergate Delegate.
Behind the new top sire Mascol is O-Bee Manfred Justice who adds 7 points to his £PLI and now has a £PLI of 79. Just behind him in third place is the previous number one Delta Canvas, now with a £PLI of 78.
Just one point behind Netherside Dynamo and up from 10th place with a £PLI of 75 is Ricecrest Boone. Holding onto a £PLI of 74 and in sixth place is De Crob Dynasty who is followed in seventh place by Holim Rafael, the first of 16 Addison sons listed in the top 100. Rafael now has a £PLI of 73, down from 79.
This latest proof run, produced independently by MDC breeding+ and using data from milk records organisations and breed societies, shows some reshuffling of places because of improved lifespan evaluations, which are part of the £PLI calculation.
For the first time, lifespan proofs for overseas bulls include actual survival data from their home country and family information from UK records. "This enhanced information, which is already used for UK bred bulls, is a major improvement in lifespan reliability," says breeding+ technical director Marco Winters.
"The length of life animals spend in the herd is of major economic importance and predictions for lifespan assist producers in breeding for longevity. Lifespan predictions are based on actual survival based on number of calvings, type data, SCC's and information on family relatives."
Other highlights in the latest Holstein rankings are Picston Shaker, half brother to Picston Shottle, who achieves 99% reliability and maintains his £PLI of 50, placing him in the top 100.
Leading the way of reliable transmitters at 99% reliability is Jocko Besne who climbs £8 PLI to 65. Jocko has already sired four sons in the top 100, the highest being Jefferson in 41st place. Also with 99% reliability and joining the top five solid transmitters for the first time is Alzi Juror Ford who climbs by 12 to a £PLI of 55.
Eight newly available bulls enter the top 100 £PLI. Highest newcomer, after Dynamo, is Mtoto son Gillette Brilea FBI in 42nd place with a £PLI of 57.
Also published this week are the new genetic rankings for the specialist breeds. The published information includes top £PLI lists for bulls with UK progeny tests and international proofs as well as top cow and herd lists. Further information is available from the breed societies involved and from the MDC breeding+ website on www.mdc.org.uk
The Holstein sire list includes HUK Type Merit values and the company marketing each bull. Every effort has been made to make sure that lists published by MDC breeding+ and HUK are the same. All PTAs have been sent to breed societies and milk recording organisations.
