New interest amongst nonHolstein sires

JERSEYS and Ayrshires witness a change up in the April genetic evaluations, published by AHDB, whilst Friesians fairly remain unchanged.

Jersey

Danish-bred VJ NR Hauggaard Nibali Nibiru, takes the new No.1 ranking, with an impressive udder health improver (-22 SCC, -2 Mastitis) and climbs six places, with a PLI of £462.

Runner up goes to VJ Groenbjerg Lobo Lobster, with Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) for fat and protein of +0.37% and +0.26% respectively. He has a PLI of £431 and 137 UK daughters contributing to his production figures, also earning an outstanding daughter Fertility Index of 14.0.

A joint third place went to, VJ Kibsgaard Jocko Jojo (PLI £425), graduating for the first time on to the proven bull list and confirming his earlier genomic predictions. He is the highest HealthyCow bull in the top five.

Equalling that was JX River Valley Chief, and is by far the highest yield transmitter on the Jersey list, with 853kg milk and 63.6kg fat plus protein, again with a PLI of £425.

Another new entrant, VJ Ulvsbjerg Giant Giga, has graduated from the genomic ranking and completes four Scandinavian bulls in the top five. He earns a PLI of £403 and has the best score for lowering cell counts on the list, at SCC -29.

Ayrshire

Edging his way up from second place in December,

VR Venom, was crowned the top spot among the Ayrshires.

His PLI now exceeds £500 for the first time and despite an annual base change, weighing in at £513. This is thanks to additional UK daughters (there are now 159) which help earn his high fat PTA (+0.23%) and good health credentials, including a Fertility Index of 16.9.

The longstanding VR Vilano has been edged down into second position with a PLI of £428, sharing this score with new entrant, the UK-bred Whinnow Origin.

Although Origin only has a limited number of milking daughters, they are enough to graduate him to the proven list. They show great milk potential and help earn him PTAs of 671kg