The December 2020 Hoard’s Dairyman Bull List is ready for download.
This tri-annual list once again features a genomic Holstein bull over $1,000 Cheese Merit (CM$). As some readers may recall, it was just 12 months ago that every genomic or DNA-proven Holstein bull among the breed’s “Top 50” was over $1,050 CM$. Then, the five-year base change that took place in April 2020 recalibrated the Holstein breed’s top bull from $1,233 CM$ to $971 CM$. It didn’t take long, though, for genetic progress to bring a bull back to four digits of genetic improvement.
While the Net Merit formula remains unchanged in the December genetic evaluation, changes are likely to occur in April 2021 when traits such as Feed Saved (Holsteins) and Heifer Livability (Holsteins and Jerseys) get added to the Net Merit, Cheese Merit, and Fluid Merit formulas. For more on these new traits, please read “Two new genetic traits coming in December.”
Young bulls have gained favor
Young bulls continue to drive A.I. semen sales as dairy farmers across the country and around the world vote with their pocket books. In December 2020, 71% of all bulls declared active by A.I. studs were genomic young bulls without milking daughters. This “market share” number was down 2 percentage points from one year ago at this time.
Again, click here to download the December 2020 Hoard’s Dairyman Bull List.
December 2020 Hoard's Dairyman Bull List
Top 50 Genomic Holstein Net Merit $, Cheese Merit $, and TPI
Top 50 Daughter Proven Holstein Net Merit $, Cheese Merit $, and TPI
Top 25 Holstein SCE and Jersey CM$ and JPI
