The number one position is taken by Guarini, a Goldwyn son whose Somatic Cell Count Index has improved to -32, making him amongst the best of the Holstein breed for udder health. He combines this with good Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) for production and type, earning him a PLI of £253.
The Buckeye son Morningview Levi edges into second (from first) position, but maintains his strong figures for fitness. Good daughter fertility (Fertility Index +5.4) and impressive calving ability (both direct and maternal), combine with high production PTAs to earn him a PLI of £247.
Holding on to third position is components specialist, Lynbrook Jancen (PLI £236) while moving up to fourth is Whitman O Man Awesome Andy (PLI £235) whose Lifespan Index at +0.7 is the best of the breed.
The Shottle son Cogent Twist moves into the top five with a PLI of £229 based on performance by 82 daughters in 51 herds. Twist becomes the number one UK-proven bull and improves on his figure for kg fat, now with a breed-leading 39.9kg.
Also UK-bred and the only new bull in the top 10 is Ballycairn Oman Pello (Oman x Goldwyn), with a PLI of £228. He descends from the Skalsumer Pietje family, while Andrew McCollum's Northern Ireland-based Ballycairn herd builds on its growing reputation, having produced more UK-proven bulls over the past three years than any other herd, from a variety of strong cow families. Like his dam, Ballycairn Goldwyn Pietje Ex92, Pello's PTA features high volumes (864kg) of high quality milk including a 29.7kg protein and positive components. With 26 daughters in 21 herds, he is one to watch as more daughters are added, although his reliability is strengthened by the genomic information which is incorporated in his indexes.
See this week's The Scottish Farmer to read more, including the best from each breed, out December 15.
