RAINOW’s still #1 proven, but his lead over #2 shrank from 7 points to 2 in one run. Fugleman’s closing fast.
Executive Summary: Fugleman just gained +3 to NTM 38 in the April 2026 Scandinavia proven run, tightening the gap to PEAK RAINOW-ET at NTM 40 and reshaping the top of the daughter-proven list. On the genomic side, VH Sheriff slipped slightly to NTM 50 while a new GenoSource bull, Jefe, arrived out of nowhere at NTM 45 to take genomic #4 in his first NAV appearance. VikingGenetics now holds 21 of the top 30 genomic NTM slots, so if most of your semen tank starts with “VH,” you’re stacking a lot of the same gene pool whether you mean to or not. The data behind the lists show that the top 5 in the genomic lists, while the proven top 6 barely moved, which is a not-so-subtle reminder of where the real risk lies. For robot herds, Fugleman (milkability 126) and ROVER PK (127) now look like the safest proven anchors, while Sheriff’s milkability 82 is a hard red flag unless your parlor can handle slow milkers. If you’re chasing health and longevity, ROVER PK and VH StoryRC give you fertility and general health in the teens and 120+ longevity without chasing the very top NTM point or two. The smart move in the next 30 days is to audit your sire list for VH overuse, slide in at least one non-VH genomic sire like DG Brujito, Jefe, or AltaMULLER, and decide how much of your next order you really want riding on high-flyer genomics vs the now very-solid proven top tier.
Fugleman posted the largest NTM gain among Scandinavia’s daughter-proven elite — up +3 to April 2026 NTM 38, vaulting from #4 to #2 and closing to within 2 points of PEAK RAINOW-ET. On the genomic side, a 2024-born GenoSource bull called Jefe appeared on the NAV list for the first time at April 2026 NTM 45, slotting into #4 — the highest debut in this run, transmitted via the April 7 Interbull GMACE delivery. VH Sheriff still leads at genomic NTM 50, but he shed a point from December, and every bull in the genomic top 5 moved down.
The proven top 10 tells a different story from the genomic top 30. The proven list is gaining stability: 8 of 10 bulls held their positions, and the new entrants (Simba P, Rosario) arrived on expanding daughter data. The genomic list, meanwhile, saw universal NTM erosion across its top tier — the normal regression pattern, but broad enough to warrant recalibrating confidence in any single genomic number. For breeders building sire portfolios, the gap between genomic ceiling and proven floor keeps narrowing.
What Changed at the Top?
Genomic NTM: April 2026 vs December 2025
Seven of ten bulls held top-10 status. Three new entrants displaced three exits. The index spread tightened slightly: 9 points (#1 to #10) in April vs 10 points in December.
| Apr Rank | Bull | Apr NTM | Dec Rank | Dec NTM | NTM Δ | Status |
| 1 | VH Sheriff | 50 | 1 | 51 | −1 | Retained |
| 2 | DG Brujito | 46 | 3 | 47 | −1 | Retained |
| 3 | VH Mads P | 46 | 2 | 48 | −2 | Retained |
| 4 | Jefe | 45 | — | — | NEW | New entrant |
| 5 | Fly P | 42 | 7 | 41 | +1 | Retained |
| 6 | VH Darwin | 42 | 5 | 43 | −1 | Retained |
| 7 | VH Galaxy | 42 | 4 | 44 | −2 | Retained |
| 8 | VH ShaneRC | 42 | 13 | 41 | +1 | New to top 10 |
| 9 | AltaMULLER | 41 | 17 | 40 | +1 | New to top 10 |
| 10 | Bravo | 41 | 6 | 41 | 0 | Retained |
The three exits — Fortuny (Dec #8 → Apr #15, NTM 41→40), VH FlyerPP (Dec #9 → Apr #11, NTM 41→41), and VH KenzoRC (Dec #10 → Apr #12, NTM 41→41) — all remain at or near the fringe. This wasn’t a reshuffle driven by collapse; it was compression plus Jefe’s arrival pushing everyone down a slot.
Proven NTM: April 2026 vs December 2025
Eight bulls held their spots. The two new entrants — Simba P and Rosario — both carry accumulating daughter data. The index band compressed: 9 points (#1 to #10) in April vs 11 points in December, driven primarily by RAINOW dropping and Fugleman climbing.
| Apr Rank | Bull | Apr NTM | Dec Rank | Dec NTM | NTM Δ | Status |
| 1 | PEAK RAINOW-ET | 40 | 1 | 42 | −2 | Retained |
| 2 | Fugleman | 38 | 4 | 35 | +3 | Retained |
| 3 | VH SKILLS | 37 | 3 | 36 | +1 | Retained |
| 4 | CAMDEN | 36 | 2 | 36 | 0 | Retained |
| 5 | SUPPORTER | 36 | 5 | 35 | +1 | Retained |
| 6 | ROVER PK | 34 | 8 | 32 | +2 | Retained |
| 7 | Engineer | 33 | 6 | 32 | +1 | Retained |
| 8 | Simba P | 32 | — | — | NEW | New to proven list |
| 9 | METRO | 31 | 7 | 32 | −1 | Retained |
| 10 | Rosario | 31 | 13 | 30 | +1 | Retained |
VH SWISH (Dec #9 NTM 32) and VH CRONOS (Dec #10 NTM 31) slipped to #12 and #11, both at April NTM 31 — a narrow miss rather than a meaningful drop.
The Big Movers: Up, Down, and Out
Risers
Fugleman — Proven: Dec NTM 35 #4 → Apr NTM 38 #2. The +3 NTM gain is the largest among all proven bulls in this run. Yield rose from 130 to 132, udder health jumped from 95 to 100 (+5), claw health from 94 to 96, and udder conformation from 114 to 116. Milkability dipped marginally from 127 to 126 (−1), and temperament (115) held. His genomic promise is being validated, not eroded, by daughter performance.
Jefe — Genomic: not in December NAV evaluation → Apr NTM 45 #4. A 2024-born GenoSource bull (distributed through STgenetics®) entering at the highest NTM of any first-evaluation animal this run. His profile is all growth (124) and frame (118), with general health 111, claw health 109, and udder 115 providing functional backup. The catch: fertility (98) and birth (97) sit below the Nordic baseline. First-run genomic bulls in the NAV system routinely shift 3–5 NTM within two runs — treat this as a high-upside, high-variance entry.
ROVER PK — Proven: Dec NTM 32 #8 → Apr NTM 34 #6. Gained on fertility (115→117), temperament (117→121), and udder health (90→92), all on expanding daughter data. General health 121, milkability 127, and calving 110 make him the clearest functional specialist in the proven top 10.
VH ShaneRC — Genomic: Dec NTM 41 #13 → Apr NTM 42 #8. One of only three genomic bulls that gained NTM this run. A red carrier with general health 117, fertility 108, and udder health 107 — the most functionally balanced bull among the genomic top-10 entrants.
VH Clapton — Proven: Dec NTM 25 #29 → Apr NTM 28 #17. Gained +3 NTM and 12 ranks. Yield jumped from 121 to 125 (+4), and his saved feed, 118; general health, 110; and longevity, 116, position him as a quietly accumulating functional sire worth monitoring.
AltaMULLER — Genomic: Dec NTM 40 #17 → Apr NTM 41 #9. The only Alta Genetics representative in the genomic top 30 gained +1 NTM and 8 ranks. Growth 122, calving 109, and claw health 114 give him a clear functional package from outside VikingGenetics’ pipeline.
Decliners
PEAK RAINOW-ET — Proven: Dec NTM 42 #1 → Apr NTM 40 #1. Still #1, but the margin over #2 narrowed from 7 points to 2. Yield declined from 130 to 127 (−3) and growth from 110 to 108. Udder health improved from 97 to 100, claw health from 113 to 115, and longevity from 103 to 105. RAINOW’s management traits are holding or improving as daughters accumulate — but his production advantage is eroding. Another 2-point drop next run puts Fugleman or VH SKILLS within striking distance of #1.
VH STINGER — Proven: Dec NTM 30 #14 → Apr NTM 26 #24. A −4 NTM decline driven by yield dropping from 117 to 113 and temperament from 98 to 94. This pushes STINGER to the margin of the proven top 25. Milkability (118) and fertility (112) retain some niche value, but their trajectories are downward.
August — Proven: Dec NTM 27 #17 → Apr NTM 22 #50. The run’s largest proven-list decline: −5 NTM and −33 ranks. Fertility fell from 119 to 115 and udder health from 103 to 98 — classic daughter-proof regression. Longevity (126) remains high, but a 5-point NTM drop in a single run pushes him to the margins pending further data.
VH Galaxy — Genomic: Dec NTM 44 #4 → Apr NTM 42 #7. Down 2 NTM and 3 ranks. General health (120) and longevity (122) remain among the best in the top 10, but yield and NTM are both trending in the wrong direction for a second evaluation.
VH Mads P — Genomic: Dec NTM 48 #2 → Apr NTM 46 #3. Lost 2 NTM and slipped behind DG Brujito. His trait profile is still deep — fertility 121, claw health 117, milkability 116 — but the polled carrier that was once a clear #2 is now in a tighter race with Brujito and Jefe.
Notable Drop-Outs
Five bulls dropped from the December genomic top 20, and all five lost exactly 2 NTM: VH SloppyP (#14→#29), VH Smasher (#15→#30), Cascari (#18→#32), VH Caspian (#19→#39), and VH KingRC (#20→#40). The uniform −2 pattern is striking. NAV applied no base change between December 2025 and April 2026, so this is genuine genomic regression rather than a rescaling artifact. None have collapsed — they’re still in the top 40 — but in a compressed NTM band, even 2 points costs 10–20 rank positions.
On the proven side, VH Comply (Dec NTM 27 #18) disappeared entirely from the April top-50 published list. Lambeau (Dec #19 → Apr #21) and MAXIMUS (Dec #20 → Apr #27, NTM 26→25) also dropped out of the top 20, though both remain on the list.
What the NTM Is Rewarding This Run
Aggregate trait averages for the top 10 reveal subtle but meaningful shifts from December:
| Trait | Genomic Top 10 Apr | Genomic Top 10 Dec | Δ | Proven Top 10 Apr | Proven Top 10 Dec | Δ |
| Yield | 132.4 | 133.6 | −1.2 | 126.5 | 127.0 | −0.5 |
| Fertility | 106.5 | 107.5 | −1.0 | 107.7 | 107.5 | +0.2 |
| Udder Health | 106.6 | 106.5 | +0.1 | 101.3 | 100.6 | +0.7 |
| General Health | 109.2 | 107.8 | +1.4 | 106.1 | 104.6 | +1.5 |
| Claw Health | 106.3 | 107.4 | −1.1 | 105.0 | 102.2 | +2.8 |
The top 10 genomic traits dipped in yield and fertility while improving in general health — partly driven by Jefe’s general health 111 replacing Fortuny’s 96. The proven top 10 tells the more interesting story: general health climbed +1.5, and claw health surged +2.8, driven by Simba P’s claw health 113 and Rosario’s general health 126 entering the top 10 while VH SWISH (general health 101) and VH CRONOS (claw health 103) dropped out.
Stud Power, Family Power, and Outcross Space
Who Owns the Genomic Top?
VikingGenetics (VH prefix) controls 21 of the 30 published genomic NTM slots in April 2026, up from 20 of 28 in December. The dominance is concentrated in Danish-registered bulls — 14 of the top 30 carry DNK registration codes — with Finnish-born (VH ShaneRC, VH Timer, VH Lullaby, VH SloppyP) and Swedish-born (VH SANDRO) VH bulls providing geographic diversity within the program.
| Origin/Company | Genomic Top 30 (Apr) | Notes |
| VikingGenetics (VH) | 21 | DNK 14, FIN 4, SWE 1, DEU 1, FRA 1 |
| German-bred (non-VH) | 4 | Fly P, Fortuny, Meteorit, Saturn RDC |
| GenoSource / STgenetics® | 1 | Jefe (highest non-VH NTM at 45) |
| Other US-bred | 1 | Prizepick |
| Dutch-bred (DG/other) | 2 | DG Brujito, Bravo |
| Alta Genetics | 1 | AltaMULLER |
On the proven side, VH representation in the top 10 fell from 3 bulls (VH SKILLS, VH SWISH, VH CRONOS) in December to 1 (VH SKILLS) in April. The proven top 10 is dominated by internationally-bred bulls: 4 US-registered (RAINOW, Fugleman, ROVER PK, Engineer), 3 German-registered (SKILLS, SUPPORTER, Simba P), 1 Dutch (CAMDEN), 1 French (Rosario), and METRO (German).
Outcross Candidates
Without explicit sire/grandsire columns in the NAV lists, direct pedigree mapping isn’t possible. Registration-code diversity identifies clear outcross options relative to the VH-dominated pipeline:
- Jefe (USA, NTM 45): GenoSource-bred, distributed through STgenetics® — the highest-NTM bull from outside VikingGenetics’ breeding program.
- DG Brujito (NLD, NTM 46): Diamond Genetics breeding, Dutch pedigree base — likely the most pedigree-distant option in the genomic top 5.
- AltaMULLER (USA, NTM 41): Alta pipeline genetics, growth 122, and claw health 114.
- Saturn RDC (DEU, NTM 39): German red-carrier with the deepest health breadth among non-VH genomic bulls — general health 108, claw health 121, udder 115, calving 113.
Polled and Red-Carrier Frequency
In the genomic top 20: 4 polled carriers (VH Mads P, Fly P, VH FlyerPP, VH KiloPRC) and 5 red carriers (VH ShaneRC, VH KenzoRC, VH StoryRC, VH KiloPRC, Saturn RDC). VH KiloPRC carries both. On the proven side, Simba P at #8 is the highest-ranking polled proven bull.
How Volatile Are Scandinavia’s NTM Rankings Right Now?
Genomic: Broad erosion, moderate churn
The genomic top 10 retained 7 of 10 bulls — moderate churn by NAV standards. The direction matters more than the count: every returning bull in the top 5 lost NTM (VH Sheriff −1, VH Mads P −2, DG Brujito −1, VH Galaxy −2, VH Darwin −1), and only 3 of 10 bulls gained even a single point. This universal downward pressure is expected to drive genomic regression as information accumulates, but it means the April numbers are likely still above where these bulls will stabilize.
April 7, 2026, was a NAV “small run” — genotypes were updated (including new Interbull GMACE transmissions), but phenotypic data were carried forward from the February 3, 2026, large run. The next full phenotype update comes with the May 5 large run.
The published genomic list includes only bulls without the DFS progeny test. With the top 30 dominated by 2024-born animals, daughter-proof confirmation is years away. Any sire portfolio built heavily on genomic NTM rankings needs to account for the possibility that individual bulls could re-rank by 3–5 NTM over the next two to three runs.
High-volatility flags: Jefe at NTM 45 on first evaluation carries the most re-ranking risk. VH Sheriff’s milkability of 82 introduces adoption risk independent of index movement — if milkability weighting or data shift, his NTM could be disproportionately affected.
Proven: Converging and stabilizing
The proven top 10 retained 8 of 10 bulls and added two new entrants with accumulating daughter data. Most proven NTM movements were ±1–2, with Fugleman’s +3 as the clear outlier. The exceptions signaling genuine corrections are VH STINGER (−4) and August (−5) — bulls whose December numbers overstated what daughters confirmed.
The proven top 6 (RAINOW, Fugleman, VH SKILLS, CAMDEN, SUPPORTER, ROVER PK) now represent the lowest-variance NTM tier available in the NAV Holstein system.
What This Means for Your Matings This Season
If your herd runs AMS/robotic milking
Milkability is non-negotiable, and this run sharply splits the elite. Among proven bulls, Fugleman (milkability 126, April NTM 38) and ROVER PK (milkability 127, April NTM 34) are the clear targets. Fugleman’s milkability is now confirmed by daughters, not predicted by a chip — that distinction matters for robot herds where throughput determines ROI. Be cautious with Simba P (milkability 94) and METRO (milkability 97) despite their NTM; these will cost you throughput.
On the genomic side, VH Sheriff’s milkability 82 is a significant risk for AMS operations — the lowest among all reported genomic top-30 bulls. If you want the highest genomic NTM accessible for robots, VH Mads P (NTM 46, milkability 116) is the safer call. VH Smasher (NTM 39, milkability 118) and VH StoryRC (NTM 41, milkability 114) carry above-average milkability with deep functional packages.
If your herd prioritizes production ceiling
VH Sheriff (genomic yield 136, NTM 50) and DG Brujito (genomic yield 136, NTM 46) lead the genomic list on raw yield. Among proven bulls, METRO (yield 132, NTM 31) and Fugleman (yield 132, NTM 38) top the production column. Jefe’s growth index of 124 is the highest in the genomic top 30 — if your program needs frame and growth from outside the VH gene pool, he fills that niche, but pair him only with cows whose fertility is already strong (≥110 herd-level), given his fertility of 98.
If your herd prioritizes health, fertility, and cow lifetime
VH StoryRC (genomic NTM 41) is the standout functional specialist: fertility 124, general health 112, claw health 113, longevity 120, feet & legs 121, and udder 115 form arguably the deepest functional package on the entire genomic list. The price: yield 117 is the lowest in the genomic top 20, and frame 86 means small-framed daughters. This is a bull for breeders who’ll trade production ceiling for a sustainable cow lifetime.
On the proven side, ROVER PK (NTM 34) combines fertility 117, general health 121, and claw health 114 on daughter data — the highest proven functional floor available. VH Racer (genomic NTM 39) sits just outside the top 20 but carries fertility 123, general health 121, claw health 114, and feet & legs 124. If you’re correcting a herd with below-average health or fertility, these three bulls belong in your mating rotation regardless of their NTM ranking.
If you need type and conformation improvement
SKATER (proven NTM 27) is the highest-ranking proven bull with a genuine type profile: frame 125, udder 118, claw health 112, feet & legs 110. His milkability (92) and temperament (86) are penalties — he’s not a blanket-use sire — but for targeted type correction on cows with adequate management traits, he has no functional equivalent among proven bulls.
VH Galaxy (genomic NTM 42) offers frame 117 paired with general health 120, longevity 122, and milkability 120 — the strongest combination of type plus function in the genomic top 10.
If you’re managing inbreeding against VH-dominated genetics
Do this within 30 days: Pull your sire lineup and cross-reference every active genomic bull against the VH registration prefixes (HOLDNKM, HOLFINM, HOLSWEM) for VikingGenetics’ Danish, Finnish, and Swedish units. With VH bulls holding 21 of 30 genomic slots, any Nordic herd using the NTM top list as its mating guide is almost certainly over-concentrated. If more than 60% of your genomic sires carry VH pedigrees, replace at least one with a non-VH alternative before your next mating round. DG Brujito (NTM 46) and AltaMULLER (NTM 41) give you NTM without adding to the VH concentration. On the proven side, CAMDEN (Dutch), Rosario (French), and Engineer (US) offer pedigree distance.
Bench Bulls to Watch
- VH Racer (Genomic #24, Apr NTM 39): Fertility 123, general health 121, claw health 114, feet & legs 124, longevity 119. It may be the best functional package on the entire NAV list. Yield 117 caps his NTM, but if NTM weightings shift toward longevity or health, he climbs.
- VH Timer (Genomic #14, Apr NTM 41): A 2025-born new entrant not on the December list. Fertility 119, longevity 115, frame 115, and temperament 116 give him the deepest all-around profile among 2025-born bulls in the top 15. His milkability 92 is a flag for robot herds, but the balance across functional traits is notable for a first-evaluation animal.
- Saturn RDC (Genomic #20, Apr NTM 39): Growth 122, calving 113, general health 108, claw health 121, udder 115 from a German base — a genuine multi-purpose outcross.
- VH SammyRC (Genomic #26, Apr NTM 39): Red carrier with udder health 120, claw health 116, longevity 121. Deep health, Scandinavian pedigree.
- Rosario (Proven #10, Apr NTM 31): General health 126, feet & legs 125, udder 120 — the deepest health-and-type sire among proven bulls. Youngstock survival (81) is a hard flag, but for targeted mating plans on structural soundness, he’s unique.
Key Takeaways:
- Fugleman’s April 2026 Scandinavia-proven NTM jumped from 35 to 38, pulling within 2 points of PEAK RAINOW-ET and confirming his management traits in daughters, not just genomics.
- The genomic top is regressing: VH Sheriff slipped from NTM 51 to 50, every returning bull in the genomic top 5 lost ground, and Jefe’s first-run NTM 45 sits in the high‑variance zone.
- VikingGenetics now owns 21 of the top 30 genomic NTM bulls, which means any herd using “top NTM” as its main filter risks stacking a very narrow VH gene pool unless it deliberately brings in outcross sires.
- For robots and high‑throughput parlors, Fugleman (milkability 126) and ROVER PK (127) are now the safest proven anchors, while Sheriff’s milkability 82 makes him a genomic specialist for systems that can live with slower milkers.
- The practical 30‑day job is to audit your sire list for VH saturation, plug in at least one non‑VH genomic bull (DG Brujito, Jefe, AltaMULLER, Saturn RDC), and decide how much of your next semen order you really want riding on high-flyer genomics vs the increasingly stable proven top tier.
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Methodology Note
This analysis uses the four official NAV NTM lists: genomic (bulls without DFS progeny test) and daughter-proven (bulls with DFS progeny test) for both the December 2025 run (published 2 December 2025) and the April 2026 run (published 7 April 2026), all for the Holstein breed, all birth countries. The April 7, 2026, evaluation was a NAV “small run” — genotypes were updated (including new Interbull MACE/GMACE transmissions, which is why Jefe appeared on the NAV list for the first time), but phenotypic data were carried forward from the February 3, 2026, large run. No NTM base change was applied between runs. The top group was defined as the top 10 for the primary analysis, extended to the top 20 and 30 when the data supported additional pattern recognition. New entrants are bulls present in the April list that did not appear anywhere in the corresponding December list within its published range (top 50 for genomic, top 100 for proven). Drop-outs are the reverse. All genomic NTM values represent predictions without daughter-proof confirmation; these bulls remain subject to re-ranking as data accumulates — the next full phenotype update arrives with the May 5, 2026, large run.
