The dairy world just lost its undisputed genetic monarch. King DOC’s death marks the end of a breeding dynasty that redefined what it means to be a complete Holstein sire – and his final straws are flying off the shelves faster than his daughters dominated show rings.
The bull who lived up to his royal title took his final bow. Select Sires announced the passing of 250HO12961 Woodcrest King DOC (EX-90), the internationally recognized Holstein sire who died just months shy of his tenth birthday. But here’s the thing – calling this just another bull obituary would be like calling the Mona Lisa just another painting.
When Genetics Meet Greatness
DOC wasn’t bred by accident. This was calculated excellence from day one. Born from the strategic mating of 7HO12198 KINGBOY and WCD-ZBW Mack Daddy (VG-88-VG-MS) at Woodcrest Dairy LLC in Lisbon, New York, DOC represented everything modern dairy breeding should aspire to achieve.
What made DOC special wasn’t just his stellar pedigree – though tracing back ten generations to the legendary Glenridge Citation Roxy EX-97 certainly didn’t hurt. It was his ability to deliver on every promise his genetics suggested and then exceed expectations by miles.
The numbers tell the story: +982 lbs Milk with 99% reliability from 54,563 daughters across 10,067 herds. But production was just the opening act. His +2.43 PTAT score, backed by 99% reliability from over 30,000 daughters, proved he could transmit elite type alongside those milk checks.
The Million-Dollar Proof Point
Perhaps nothing validates a sire’s worth like cold, hard cash changing hands. DOC’s daughter S-S-I Doc Have Not 8784-ET (EX-96-EX-MS-DOM) sold for a record-breaking $1.925 million. This wasn’t just a high price – it was the market’s emphatic statement that DOC’s genetics were worth betting the farm on.
That sale represented something unprecedented in modern dairy breeding: a cow that could command show ring respect while delivering commercial dairy profits. S-S-I Doc Have Not 8784-ET exemplified DOC’s unique ability to sire what the industry calls “crossover cows” – animals that thrive in progressive dairies while claiming purple banners at national shows.
The Crossover King’s Legacy
Here’s where DOC revolutionized dairy breeding thinking. For decades, the industry accepted a false choice: breed for production or breed for type. DOC shattered that paradigm by proving you could have both – and his daughters proved it every day in herds worldwide.
His role as a patriarch of Select Sires’ Showcase™ program wasn’t honorary – it was earned through consistent delivery. His daughters didn’t just win shows; they built breeding programs. They didn’t just produce milk; they produced profits. This dual appeal made DOC invaluable to an industry that had grown tired of choosing between form and function.
Global Impact, Local Results
The scope of DOC’s influence reads like a dairy industry atlas. His genetics reached every corner of the dairy world – from Japan and Korea to Spain, Italy, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Australia, Canada, and across the United States. With over 673,000 doses sold globally, DOC wasn’t just one of Select Sires’ bestsellers – he was proof that superior genetics know no borders.
Scott Ruby from World Wide Sires captured it perfectly: “Doc is a bull that has expanded his popularity every year of his life.” That’s not typical. Most sires peak early, then fade. DOC’s sustained demand reflected his consistent ability to deliver results as more daughters entered production.
The Breeding Blueprint
DOC’s success offers a roadmap for evaluating future sires. His comprehensive genetic package addressed the multifaceted needs of modern dairy operations: elite production superior type, and robust health traits, including improved mastitis resistance and productive life.
More importantly, he demonstrated that the most valuable genetics aren’t always the most extreme but rather those that deliver consistent, profitable performance across diverse environments and management systems.
The Bottom Line
King DOC’s death marks the end of a remarkable genetic journey, but his influence on the Holstein breed is just beginning. His daughters worldwide continue proving his genetic worth daily, each lactation adding to the evidence that comprehensive excellence is achievable in dairy breeding.
The King is dead, but his dynasty lives on.
