British Holsteins have risen to the top of AHDB’s latest young genomic stallion rankings, with De Novo Coyote P leading the December ratings, highlighting the growing influence of British genetics in global dairy breeding.
New figures released today (December 2) put Coyote, a British-bred DeNovo bull and son of Classic P, firmly in the lead. He is projected to weigh 62.2kg, +0.30% with exceptional fat production, and has a HealthyCow index of 157 pounds.
Combined, these traits give the horse a Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) of 871 pounds, the highest of any young Genome Holstein stallion this month. Coyote is also one of five British DeNovo bulls currently ranked within the top 30.
Just behind him, Badger Siemers Day Trip moved into second place with PLI £870. Sons of sheep stand out among daughters for longevity, boasting a +180 day longevity score and strong maintenance (-22) and somatic cell count (-20) predictions. In third place was fellow Sheepster progeny Progenesis Preston, whose 867-pound PLI is backed by an impressive 41.7 kg of protein delivery.
DeNovo 20723 Columbia moves into fourth place with PLI £864. The son of Leeds has an excellent milk yield of 1,140kg and a notable feed advantage (FAdv) of 240kg. This means his daughters are expected to consume 240kg less dry matter per lactation than comparable bulls with a FAdv of 0.
5th place Adaway Beyond Fitness (PLI £862) earned the ranking due to its high fertility, with a daughter having a Fertility Index of +10 and a HealthyCow Score of 205 pounds. Two bulls share sixth place at 860 pounds: Peak Alta Value Pack and Adaway Beyond Faithful. The latter is a herd mate and a maternal half-brother to the No. 5 ranked bull, both of whom score highly on health and welfare traits.
The 8th and 9th places were occupied by two new entrants. De Novo Charisma, another half-brother to top sire Coyote, enters at 856lbs and provides 1,122kg of milk with good udder health (SCC -27, mastitis -2) and a HealthyCow score of 221lbs. Handel Manson, ranked ninth at 853 pounds, is expected to do well in Lemness Advantage (3.1) and Feed Advantage (214 kg).
Rounding out the top ten is the DeNovo 20893 Harmony with a PLI of £845. Harmony offers the strongest forage advantage in the top 20 with a weight of 291kg and the best environmental credentials of the breed with an EnviroCow score of 4.8.
Other notable additions in the top 20 include De Novo Mascot (PLI £833), a half-brother to Harmony, who has excellent udder health and the best fertility of the group with an FI of 12.9. Two dominant sires also joined the list: 92.9kg strong fat and protein producers Genosource Eudonsay (PLI £827) and Progenesis Persimmon (PLI £826).
Marco Winters, head of animal genetics at AHDB, said the overall trend across the list reflects important efficiency gains. “All of the top sires in this young stud ranking are predicted to have improved feed management due to their smaller size, which is a highly desirable trait that will reduce feed costs and contribute to reducing carbon emissions,” he said.
