The genomic throne has a new king. VH Sheriff debuts at +51 NTM – and the bull he dethroned? Dropped 8 points overnight.
Executive Summary: VH Sheriff has rewritten Nordic Holstein history, debuting at +51 NTM to become the world’s highest-ranked genomic bull in the November 2025 NAV evaluation. His rise came alongside the fall of former leader Fly P, who plummeted 8 points to +41 NTM—one of the sharpest single-round declines on record. The genomic elite remains fiercely competitive, with 16 bulls now scoring 41 NTM or above. Among proven sires, PEAK RAINOW-ET retains the top position at +42 NTM, though widespread score reductions across this category point to evaluation methodology refinements rather than genetic regression. VH Sheriff brings exceptional balance across production and health traits, with Yield at 137, Fertility at 125, and Calving at 113—making him a compelling option for herds seeking total merit gains. For progressive breeders, this evaluation marks a pivotal moment in Scandinavian genetics that warrants close monitoring.
This round shows a significant reshuffling of the top Genomic sires, including a new NTM leader, while the Proven bull list sees stability at the top despite general index declines.
The Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation (NAV), encompassing indexes from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, has released the results for the December 2025 genetic evaluation round.
December 2025 Genomic Bull Evaluation Highlights
The Genomic indexes saw a strong newcomer claim the title of the No. 1 NTM Genomic sire: VH Sheriff, who debuts at an impressive +51 NTM. The dominance of the highest NTM values is evident in this list, which features 16 bulls with NTM scores of 41 or higher.
Comparison of Top Genomic Sires
(December 2025 vs. Previous Round)
The top of the Genomic list experienced a major turnover compared to the previous top list (where Fly P was ranked #1).
| Rank (Dec ’25) | Name | NTM (Dec ’25) | Previous Rank | NTM (Previous) | Change |
| 1 | VH Sheriff | +51 | N/A | N/A | New |
| 2 | VH Mads P | +48 | 3 | +46 | +2 |
| 3 | DG Brujito | +47 | 2 | +46 | +1 |
| 7 | Fly P | +41 | 1 | +49 | -8 |
| 33 | Titus P | +38 | 4 | +45 | -7 |
The New Leaders
- VH Sheriff (HOLDNKM002468007511)
- NTM: +51 (New Leader)
- Key Strengths: High Yield (137), Fertility (125), Calving (113), and Udder (114).
- VH Mads P (HOLDNKM002468007337)
- NTM: +48 (Up from +46)
- Background: A Mecanico son bred by Tirsvad Genetics (Dam: Tirsvad Freewood Mona-Lisa P).
- Key Strengths: Excellent Claw Health (116), Yield (133), and Fertility (121).
- DG Brujito (HOLNLDM000566137338)
- NTM: +47 (Up from +46)
- Key Strengths: Maintains strong Yield (138) and Feet & Legs (118).
Significant Movement and Stability
- Fly P (HOLDEUM001505328543): Experienced the most dramatic shift, dropping from +49 NTM (#1) to +41 NTM, falling to the #7 spot.
- DG Bravo (HOLNLDM000566134430): Made a great run to secure the #6 spot with +41 NTM. Sired by Space, his dam is Arrozo daughter Batita GP-NL VG-88-MS 2yr, tracing back to Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy EX-92-USA.
- VH Seltos (HOLDNKM004032606389): Rose notably from rank #28 (+37 NTM) to #22 (+40 NTM). Strongest in Growth (133), Udder Health (118), and General Health (120).
- VH StoryRC (HOLDNKM005725908635): Increased slightly to +41 NTM. Remains highly desirable for conformation with high Frame (122), Udder (122), and Feet & Legs (116).
- VH KenzoRC (HOLDNKM005711213309): Held strong at +41 NTM. Key traits include high Yield (128) and Udder Health (116).
December 2025 Proven Bull Evaluation Highlights
The Proven bull list for December 2025 shows a drop in NTM scores for the leading bulls compared to the previous evaluation round.
Comparison of Top Proven Sires
(December 2025 vs. Previous Round)
| Rank (Dec ’25) | Name | NTM (Dec ’25) | Previous Rank | NTM (Previous) | Change |
| 1 | PEAK RAINOW-ET | +42 | 1 | +45 | -3 |
| 2 | CAMDEN | +36 | 3 | +38 | -2 |
| 3 | VH SKILLS | +36 | 6 | +35 | +1 |
| 15 | SUPPORTER | +35 | 4 | +36 | -1 |
| 18 | ROVER PK | +32 | 7 | +34 | -2 |
Top Proven Performers
- PEAK RAINOW-ET (HOLUSAM003213001132): Retains the #1 position, despite NTM dropping to +42. Standout qualities remain high Yield (130) and Fertility (120), as well as strong Udder (111) and Claw health (116).
- CAMDEN (HOLNLDM000571815449): Moved up to #2 with +36 NTM. Shows excellent Udder health (113) and Longevity (110).
- VH SKILLS (HOLDEUM000362071912): Showed a positive gain to +36 NTM, securing the #3 spot. Noted for high Yield (128) and Growth (120).
- Fugleman (HOLUSAM003215425396): Dropped to +35 NTM, moving down to #4. He maintains exceptional Udder (127) and Frame (114) scores.
Noteworthy Proven Trait Scores
Several proven bulls excel in specific traits despite lower overall NTM rankings:
- PELLEGRINO (#27, 25 NTM): Outstanding Milkability (126) and Frame (124).
- VH FUNEN (#39, 24 NTM): Stands out for Youngstock Survival (125) and Saved Feed (125).
- Lambeau (#19, 26 NTM): Holds the highest Frame score (130) in the top 30 Proven sires.
- Rosario (#13, 30 NTM): Features the highest Milkability score at 125.
Key Takeaways
- New World #1: VH Sheriff debuts at +51 NTM—Yield 137, Fertility 125, Calving 113—positioning him as a balanced total-merit leader; anticipate tight semen availability
- Volatility Warning: Fly P’s 8-point plunge from #1 to #7 demonstrates why smart breeders spread risk across multiple genomic sires rather than chasing one name
- Proven Stability Matters: PEAK RAINOW-ET holds the proven throne at +42 NTM; daughter-verified data remains the gold standard for risk-averse breeding programs
- Deep Elite Pool: With 16 bulls at 41+ NTM, there’s no need to over-rely on any single sire—explore VH Mads P (+48), DG Brujito (+47), and others
- Don’t Overreact to Index Drops: Widespread proven score declines stem from NAV methodology updates, not genetic backsliding—stay focused on trait-level fit for your herd
Complete Lists:
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