A brand new number one genomic sire and two UK-bred half-brothers in the top 10 are amongst the highlights of the new Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) ranking, published today this week by AHDB Dairy.

Leading the way is Denovo 14566 Crosby, one of the highest production sires of the Holstein breed, and predicted to transmit 1027kg milk and combined fat and protein of 74.7kg. He impressively combines this in his genomic index with superb udder health traits (-30 Somatic Cell Count, -3 Mastitis), good daughter Fertility Index (+8.4) and high Lameness Advantage (+2.8). This underlies his high daughter lifespan of +0.7 and his PLI of £863. A son of DG Charley, he is out of a Rubicon dam.

Crosby replaces the former number one sire Pine-Tree CW Legacy, who has been taken off the list due to unavailability in the UK.

Remaining in second place is Denovo 7921 Atrium (PLI £861), also from the Denovo breeding programme. Atrium is a high fat percentage bull (+0.21%) with very favourable daughter Maintenance (-12), indicating lower maintenance feed costs for his progeny. This ABS Achiever son also scores well for daughter fertility (+12.5) and lifespan (+0.6).

In third place is the second new entry since the December release, De-Su 14673 Appeal (PLI £856), another son of Achiever with a very similar breeding pattern to his paternal half-brother.

Climbing into the top 10 with a PLI of £846 is fourth placed VH Bosman Bahrain. This Danish-born sire transmits high protein (33.1kg, +0.11%), has excellent maintenance figures (-16) and favourable direct calving ease (+1.5).

In fifth place is Bomaz AltaCabot (PLI £842) who moves into the top 10 with high fat transmission, a very favourable Lameness Advantage (+2.8) and good udder health figures.

Another high kg fat transmitter makes his debut in sixth position – Denovo 8084 Entity (PLI £837). Entity also transmits good daughter fertility (+11.2) and has a good calf survival score at +2.9.

Maintaining his top 10 placing is seventh ranking Wilra ABS Amplify (PLI £836). In equal eighth place is Peak AltaLeap, an outstanding udder health bull (-31 SCC, -4 Mastitis), as well as an excellent transmitter of daughter longevity (+0.8 Lifespan).

In an unusual development, two UK-bred maternal half-brothers run neck and neck just six £PLI points apart, to round off the top 10. Bred by the Boghill Glamour syndicate from the north of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, leading the duo is Boghill Glamour Persuade (PLI £833) by Westcoast Perseus, ahead of Glamour Boghill Victor by Pine-tree Verona. Their dam is a Cogent Supershot daughter from the well-known Larcrest Cosmopolitan family.