Publish date: 04.12.25
It’s Sire Summary week, a perfect time to reflect on the advancements our industry has made! The truth is dairy farming has evolved, and most of it is due to technology and automation utilisation, genetic progress, and on-farm management practice changes.
There are notable industry changes, including a rising average herd size and a gene pool that is now more safeguarded than ever. One of the biggest pressures farmers face right now is the volatility of the milk market. With UK milk prices tightening and margins under pressure, breeding for efficiency, components and long-lasting, low-maintenance cows has never been more important. Fertility also remains a priority on every farm; a successful pregnancy is still one of the single most important events that occurs on a dairy.
Our commitment to YOUR SUCCESS
Because of these changes, plus the adoption of a sexed and beef strategy, new tool development, and index formulation updates, several years ago we made the decision to adjust how we create genetics. We specifically wanted to balance the scale with Protein because of the significant improvements made in Fat, leading us to adapt an internal selection index to better serve our customers.
Our focus is helping UK dairy farmers create the right cows for their system: healthy, long-lasting and productive cows that meet their needs. We aim to create diverse, balanced sires that are strong for fertility, health, and milk to ensure our customers PROFIT FROM GENETIC PROGRESS.
What are your greatest needs as a dairy producer? When asked this, you might think of things like:
- Milk
- Protein
- Fertility
- Daughter fertility
- Lifespan
- Somatic Cell Score and Mastitis resistance
We agree entirely and suggest deploying diverse, profitable genetics tailored to your herd’s individual goals as the most effective way to drive long-term progress. Why? Because the strength of any breeding programme lies not in following industry trends, but in how well your sire selections match the realities of your herd, your system, and your milk contract. AHDB reports that herds selecting bulls aligned to specific breeding objectives achieve up to 30–40% faster genetic gain than herds choosing sires on phenotype or fashion alone. And while chasing extremes, such as very high production or very low stature, may seem appealing, it often introduces unwanted trade-offs. This is why we advocate for forward-thinking genetics that deliver progress, efficiency and profit, without compromising long-term herd resilience.
Breeding for profit in a changing UK market
We are proud to be home to the new number one PLI bull Denovo Coyote-P at £871, born and bred in the UK, a major milestone for the Genus ABS stud. This heterozygous polled sire is a standout son of the high-impact favourite Winstar Klassic-P, and he brings together exactly what progressive herds demand: elite production, exceptional health traits, and functionality. His credentials are underpinned by a notable +0.30% Fat improvement and a balanced profile across feed efficiency, daughter fertility, and durability. Adding even greater value, he is the very first son of the prolific and highly respected dam Denovo 9464 Benefit Carla.
We are equally delighted to be home to the number one International Proven PLI bull, Denovo 17121 Sargent, a true profit powerhouse. Sargent has been one of the most widely used sires among our GENEadvance customers, and their herds are now beginning to see the benefits of his genetics: improved daughter fertility, stronger production persistence, and enhanced overall profitability. Sargent’s rising influence is already translating into measurable returns for UK dairy businesses.
Sires that will drive value
- Denovo 20723 Columbia, the standout Leeds x Take Off son with an extraordinary Feed Advantage score of 240 kgs, Columbia represents the ideal choice for producers looking to maximise feed efficiency without compromising on output.
- Denovo 80406 Arcade remains firmly within the top 1% of available bulls on PLI, increasing again this run to an impressive £837 PLI.
- DENOVO 20893 Harmony celebrates his fifth consecutive proof run near the top of the active bull rankings as well as being the number 2 Feed Advantage sire, with the average Harmony daughter projected to consume 291 kgs less dry matter per lactation.
Productive life: great strength
It is no secret that Genus ABS has had historical strength in lifespan. Think of Genus ABS greats like KED OUTSIDE JEEVES—the “Lifespan King” Or, you may recall DIE HARD. These famous Lifespan greats had high customer satisfaction because regardless of geography, dairy producers love to watch cows grow to be old cows. Seeing long-lasting, productive cows brings a smile to their face. Lifespan is vital to a dairy, affecting many key areas of an operation like culling rate, milk production, replacement rate, beef cross production, operational efficiency, emissions intensity, and sustainability.
Positive impacts of Lifespan include:
- Delayed culling
- Lower expenses
- More milk
- Smaller number of replacements needed
- Increased beef cross production
- Increased genetic progress
- More selection intensity for replacements
- More revenue
Older cows produce more milk and reduce the need for more replacements, opening up more pregnancies to be used in beef cross production and generating increased profit all around.
Genus ABS Lifespan stars of this generation
- 186 DENOVO CHARMING
- 165 WINSTAR SHOUT-PP
December 2025 Sire Summary results: Key influential sires
Globally Genus ABS have launched 36 new Holstein graduates today that are sired by 22 different sires and from 18 different MGS – showing our commitment to genetic diversity. These bulls add new strengths to our lineup.
29HO20684 LEEDS added 63 new milking daughters and now has 104 milking daughters. Just as in August, he remains everything he has always been, elite production, components and longevity, and one of the most influential Holstein sires in the Genus ABS portfolio. His 41 sons available today demonstrate exceptional genetic strength, averaging impressive gains for milk and components. LEEDS has become a key sire, with his sons mirroring that impact by consistently featuring among the top young bulls, offering UK herds a powerful combination of production, efficiency and functional traits.
As we turn the page on another Sire Summary, it is clear that regardless of where you are in the world, Genus ABS has the right genetics, tools, programs, and people to help you profit from genetic progress. We want to help you create a genetic plan that is tailored to your herd, maximises your milk check by focusing on your market, and minimises your daily challenges by helping you improve weaknesses.
To profit from genetic progress, contact your local Genus ABS representative today.
