The December 2025 UK proofs just dropped. New #1s in both rankings—and one sire’s bloodline is taking over the breed.
Executive Summary: The December 2025 UK Holstein genetic evaluations bring fresh leaders to both the genomic and daughter-proven rankings. UK-bred DENOVO COYOTE P debuts at genomic #1 with a PLI of £871, transmitting exceptional butterfat (+0.30%) and carrying both A2A2 and polled genetics—traits increasingly valued by processors and progressive herds alike. On the proven list, OCD TROOPER SHEEPSTER graduates to the top spot at £783 PLI, his daughters delivering +110 days lifespan and validating what his genomic figures promised years ago. Sheepster’s influence doesn’t stop there: multiple of his sons now rank among the genomic top 10, signalling a bloodline shaping the breed’s future. Across both rankings, the emphasis on feed efficiency, health traits, and milk components reflects an industry building cattle that perform profitably under real-world UK conditions. For producers weighing their next breeding decisions, this proof run offers genuine genetic depth—whether the priority is longevity, fertility, udder health, or butterfat.
The December 2025 genetic evaluations bring fresh faces to the top of both the young genomic and daughter-proven UK Holstein rankings. It’s a meaningful shift—and one that tells us quite a bit about where British dairy breeding is heading.
Looking at the bigger picture here, the trends are pretty clear. There’s a genuine push toward more efficient, easier-keeping cattle. Breeders are rewarding bulls that transmit strong butterfat percentages, solid health traits, and longevity. The industry’s focus on profitability per cow rather than just raw production continues to shape these rankings in practical ways.
The New Genomic Leader: DENOVO COYOTE P
The UK-bred DENOVO COYOTE P makes his debut at the very top of the young sire rankings with a Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) of £871 (AHDB December 2025 Genetic Evaluation). What’s interesting about this Winstar Klassic P son is how he balances production with health—he’s transmitting a fat percentage of +0.30% alongside respectable milk volume of 859 kg (AHDB December 2025 Genetic Evaluation).
That fat percentage figure is worth pausing on. UK processors have been signaling for years that they want more components, and bulls like Coyote P deliver exactly that. He’s also polled (POC) and carries A2A2 beta-casein status, which adds market flexibility for producers targeting specialty milk contracts.
Breaking Down the Genomic Top 10
The depth at the top of the genomic list this December is genuinely impressive. Here’s what stands out about each of the top performers:
- #2 BADGER SIEMERS DAY TRIP (PLI £870): This Sheepster son brings outstanding daughter lifespan (+180 days) and excellent udder health with SCC of -20. For farmers focused on keeping cows in the herd longer, he’s worth serious consideration.
- #3 PROGENESIS PRESTON (PLI £867 Another Sheepster son, Preston transmits strong protein (+0.10%) on solid milk volume of 978 kg. His mammary traits are respectable too.
- #4 DENOVO 20723 COLUMBIA (PLI £864 The high-volume option in the top five at 1,140 kg milk. His component percentages are modest, but he’s maintaining positive fat and protein transmission despite that volume.
- #5 ADAWAY BEYOND FITNESS (PLI £862 Lives up to his name with a daughter Fertility Index of +10.0—the highest in the top 10. For herds struggling with reproduction, that’s a meaningful number.
- #6 ADAWAY BEYOND FAITHFUL (PLI £860 A maternal half-brother to Fitness, sharing similar strengths in fertility (+7.1 FI) while adding a bit more milk volume at 928 kg.
- #7 PEAK ALTAVALUEPACK (PLI £860 The former list leader drops to seventh but remains a solid all-rounder with +0.16% fat and +0.11% protein. Still a proven performer.
- #8 DENOVO CHARISMA (PLI £856 A maternal half-brother to the new number one, Charisma brings exceptional udder health (SCC -27) paired with strong milk volume at 1,122 kg.
- #9 HENDEL MANSON (PLI £853 A newcomer offering good lifespan (+146 days) and solid component transmission. Worth watching as more data comes in.
- #10 DENOVO 20893 HARMONY (PLI £845 Rounds out the top 10 with excellent milk volume (1,068 kg) while maintaining positive components.
Top 10 Young Genomic Sires – December 2025
| Rank | Name | PLI (£) | Milk (KG) | Fat (%) | Protein (%) |
| 1 | DENOVO COYOTE P | £871 | 859 | +0.30 | +0.05 |
| 2 | BADGER SIEMERS DAY TRIP | £870 | 982 | +0.09 | +0.00 |
| 3 | PROGENESIS PRESTON | £867 | 978 | +0.18 | +0.10 |
| 4 | DENOVO 20723 COLUMBIA | £864 | 1,140 | +0.03 | +0.04 |
| 5 | ADAWAY BEYOND FITNESS | £862 | 822 | +0.14 | +0.09 |
| 6 | ADAWAY BEYOND FAITHFUL | £860 | 928 | +0.08 | +0.07 |
| 7 | PEAK ALTAVALUEPACK | £860 | 762 | +0.16 | +0.11 |
| 8 | DENOVO CHARISMA | £856 | 1,122 | +0.03 | -0.02 |
| 9 | HENDEL MANSON | £853 | 946 | +0.12 | +0.04 |
| 10 | DENOVO 20893 HARMONY | £845 | 1,068 | +0.10 | +0.05 |
Source: AHDB December 2025 Genetic Evaluation
A New Champion on the Proven List: OCD TROOPER SHEEPSTER
Turning to the daughter-proven rankings, OCD TROOPER SHEEPSTER graduates to the top spot with a PLI of £783 and reliability of 77% (AHDB December 2025 Genetic Evaluation). His daughters are living up to the promise his genomic figures made years ago.
What’s particularly noteworthy here is Sheepster’s influence on the breed. He’s now the sire of multiple bulls in the genomic top 10—including Badger Siemers Day Trip and Progenesis Preston. That kind of sire-of-sons success tells you his genetics are genuinely transmitting, not just testing well on paper.
His daughters show a lifespan advantage of +110 days, +0.17% fat, and +0.07% protein (AHDB December 2025 Genetic Evaluation). For producers looking for proven reliability backed by actual parlour performance, Sheepster delivers exactly that.
The Proven Top 10: Reliability Meets Performance
The proven list this December blends established names with high-performing new graduates:
- #2 PEAK ALTASEVERUS (PLI £764 Continues to excel in daughter fertility (+12.7) and udder health (SCC -20). His reliability sits at 78%.
- #3 PEAK POWERHOUSE (PLI £746 A powerful new graduate offering the highest milk transmission in the top 10 at 1,067 kg.
- #4 SDG-PH DELUX DOMINANCE (PLI £744 Strong for milk solids with +0.21% fat and 795 kg milk. A good option for component-focused herds.
- #5 PLAIN-KNOLL RENEGAD TROOPER (PLI £710 One of the breed’s elite lifespan improvers at +171 days. His 85% reliability gives real confidence in those longevity figures.
- #6 OCD DELUXE T REX (PLI £704 A new graduate with excellent udder health (SCC -17) and solid calf survival traits.
- #7 GENOSOURCE CAPTAIN (PLI £696 Now backed by 98% reliability—the highest in the top 10—Captain offers proven performance with 997 kg milk transmission.
- #8 WINSTAR GRAZIANO (PLI £694 The component specialist of the group at +0.34% fat and +0.14% protein, though on lower volume at 414 kg.
- #9 PEAK ALTASOLACE (PLI £683 Exceptional udder health (SCC -32—the best in the top 10) paired with strong fertility (+13.0).
- #10 ALL.NURE WENDAT (PLI £678 Makes a significant climb with a solid lifespan (+92 days) and good udder health (SCC -15).
Top 10 Daughter-Proven Sires – December 2025
| Rank | Name | PLI (£) | Reliability (%) | Milk (KG) | Fat (%) | Protein (%) |
| 1 | OCD TROOPER SHEEPSTER | £783 | 77 | 918 | +0.17 | +0.07 |
| 2 | PEAK ALTASEVERUS | £764 | 78 | 627 | +0.14 | +0.13 |
| 3 | PEAK POWERHOUSE | £746 | 76 | 1,067 | +0.06 | +0.09 |
| 4 | SDG-PH DELUX DOMINANCE | £744 | 78 | 795 | +0.21 | +0.08 |
| 5 | PLAIN-KNOLL RENEGAD TROOPER | £710 | 85 | 720 | +0.14 | +0.08 |
| 6 | OCD DELUXE T REX | £704 | 74 | 736 | +0.17 | +0.05 |
| 7 | GENOSOURCE CAPTAIN | £696 | 98 | 997 | +0.04 | +0.00 |
| 8 | WINSTAR GRAZIANO | £694 | 85 | 414 | +0.34 | +0.14 |
| 9 | PEAK ALTASOLACE | £683 | 73 | 394 | +0.16 | +0.15 |
| 10 | ALL.NURE WENDAT | £678 | 79 | 826 | -0.07 | +0.09 |
Source: AHDB December 2025 Genetic Evaluation
Understanding the Ranking Shifts
If you’ve been following these evaluations closely, you’ll notice some names have moved around. That’s normal—and actually reassuring. As more daughter data comes in, proof reliability increases, and PLI values adjust accordingly.
Genosource Captain, for instance, held the #1 proven spot in earlier evaluations but now sits at #7. That’s not because he’s become a worse bull—it’s because his proof has matured to 98% reliability, giving us a more accurate picture of his true genetic merit. The same pattern applies to Plain-Knoll Renegad Trooper’s movement from #2 to #5.
These fluctuations are exactly what we should expect from a well-functioning evaluation system. Early genomic predictions aren’t meant to be perfect—they’re meant to identify promising genetics faster than traditional progeny testing alone could manage.
Type Merit: New Leaders Emerge
For breeders who prioritize functional conformation alongside economic traits, the Type Merit rankings also saw changes this December.
Top Proven Type Sire: SANDY-VALLEY ESQUIRE now leads the daughter-proven list with a Type Merit of 3.02. He combines that conformation strength with reasonable production at 1,029 kg milk, though his fat percentage is negative at -0.26% (AHDB December 2025 Genetic Evaluation).
Top Genomic Type Sire: SYNERGY KICKSTART debuts at #1 for genomic Type Merit at 2.93. His PLI of £489 is lower than that of the PLI leaders, illustrating the trade-offs breeders face when prioritizing type over total economic merit (AHDB December 2025 Genetic Evaluation).
These bulls offer solid options for producers focused on physical structure—whether for show-ring goals or simply for building more durable, functional cattle.
The Bottom Line
The December 2025 rankings reinforce several practical takeaways for breeding decisions:
Component emphasis continues: Bulls transmitting positive fat percentages are increasingly rewarded in £PLI calculations. For producers under component-based contracts, this alignment makes genetic selection easier.
Longevity matters more than ever: Multiple top bulls in both rankings excel for lifespan traits. With replacement costs running high across UK dairy operations, keeping productive cows in the herd longer has a direct impact on the bottom line.
Sheepster’s influence is real: His sons now dominate the genomic rankings, suggesting that his genetics are consistently transmitted. That’s valuable information when evaluating lineage depth.
Genomic selection delivers: The smooth graduation of bulls like Powerhouse, T Rex, and Solace from genomic promise to proven performance validates the system’s predictive accuracy.
Whether you’re running a 100-cow family operation in Wales or managing a 500-cow unit in the East Midlands, these rankings offer genuine genetic tools for building more resilient, profitable herds. The key is matching sire selection to your specific goals—be that maximum components, longevity, fertility, or balanced improvement across traits.
Key Takeaways
- Homegrown bull takes genomic #1: UK-bred DENOVO COYOTE P debuts at the top (PLI £871) with exceptional butterfat (+0.30%) plus A2A2 and polled status—genetics that tick multiple boxes for forward-thinking herds
- Sheepster graduates to proven leader: OCD TROOPER SHEEPSTER claims the proven crown (PLI £783) with daughters living 110 days longer than average—his early genomic promise now confirmed in the parlour
- One sire’s bloodline is shaping the future: Multiple Sheepster sons—including Day Trip (#2) and Preston (#3)—rank in the genomic top 10, an uncommon depth of influence at the breed’s cutting edge
- Butterfat drives PLI success: Bulls transmitting high fat percentages dominate both rankings—welcome alignment for producers on component-based contracts
- Ranking shifts reflect better data, not worse bulls: Former leader Genosource Captain moved to #7 as his reliability hit 98%—that’s the evaluation system working exactly as designed
Top Lists
- UK – PLI Young Genomic Bulls – 12/25
- UK – PLI Daughter Proven Bulls – 12/25
- UK – TYPE Merit Young Genomic Bulls – 12/25
- UK – TYPE Merit Daughter Proven – 12/25
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