Reliability, Diversity, and Why Proven Genetics Keep Winning
Across breeds and indexes, this proof run delivered a consistent message: proven bulls with real daughter data continue to perform, regardless of formula changes or industry shifts. From Jersey HHP$® (Herd Health Profit Dollars®)
leadership to Holstein protein‑driven TPI® changes, reliability and balanced genetics once again rose to the top.
Across evaluations:
- Top‑ranking bulls with 97-99% reliability held strong
- Semen purchased years ago continues to deliver expected results
- Base adjustments and formula recalibrations shifted numbers, but not outcomes in real herds
Proven Bulls Continue to Lead the Industry
Whether sorted by TPI, JPI™, or reliability thresholds, proven sires consistently occupied top positions. This reflects:
- Large daughter group
- Repeatable performance across herds
- Fewer surprises at calving and through lactation
Health, fertility, longevity and functional conformation once again proved to be the most resilient economic drivers.
Proven Power in Jersey
The Jersey proof run reinforced why HHP$ remains the cornerstone index for long‑term profitability in the breed.
The Current Proven Jersey Lineup
At a glance:
- 16 active proven Jersey sires
- A proven lineup sired by 12 unique sires, each from a different maternal grandsire
- 9 sires over +130 JPI
- 8 sires over +45 CFP
- Lineup average of +345 HHP$
What separates this group isn’t just performance but genetic diversity combined with high reliability, giving breeders confidence from calving onward.
New Proven Jersey Graduates
- +137 JPI (Top‑15 proven sire)
- Top polled proven sire for JUI
- High CFP with solid milk
- Nearly 100 daughters
- Strong mastitis resistance
- A2A2
- Early commercial feedback highlights strong early‑lactation production
- Mighty x Tux x Craze pedigree
- +68 CFP with strong milk (+475)
- Udders holding quality deep into lactation
- From proven Heartland/Victory cow families known for durability
- Showcase™ sire
- 20 JUI
- Strong calf wellness (+106 CW$™)
- Deep Canadian and U.S. pedigree
- Daughters showing width, balance, and udder quality
The Jersey Takeaway
Confidence was the recurring theme:
- Predictable production
- Healthy, fertile cows
- Functional conformation breeders enjoy milking
Indexes may evolve—but reliable daughter performance does not.
Protein Takes Center Stage—but Proven Sires Still Win
The Holstein proof run featured a TPI™ formula update, increased protein emphasis, and six new proven graduates. Despite numerical shifts, proven sires once again proved resilient.
TPI Formula Update: Protein Emphasized
Old Weighting
New Weighting
Impact
- Protein‑heavy sires rose relative to others
- Most bulls saw 20–30 TPI point decreases
- Some genomics dropped 50–70 points
- Rankings remained largely stable when backed by daughter data
The change reflects consumer demand for higher‑protein dairy products, not a shift away from proven performance.
Six New Proven Holstein Graduates
7HO15394 DRIVE Sons: Functional, Durable Cows
DRIVE sons consistently show:
- Excellent lameness resistance
- Strong fertility and health
- Functional cows that last
- DRIVE x Acura
- +275 new daughters (343 total, 49 herds)
- +1,181 lbs milk
- Solid fertility and health traits
Other Standout Graduates
- Over 2,100 daughters
- Gained ~100 TPI points this cycle
- ~1,300 lbs milk, +1.3 type
- 7HO16276 SHEEPSTER‑free pedigree adds mating flexibility
- ~1,500 lbs milk, 55 lbs protein
- Strong caseins and fertility
- Very modern linear
- Early GForce™ favorite now backed by daughters
- Considered the “sure‑bet” graduate
- Exceptional udders (+1.23 UDC) and Protein (+48)
- Standout calf wellness
- High Sire Conception Rate (+1.7)
- From the elite Lambda Paris family
- +2.15 Type, high fertility
- Excellent caseins
- Popular 156 aAa
- Young daughters already scoring well
Final Takeaway
Proof changes come and go, good cows don’t.
Across Jerseys and Holsteins alike, this proof run confirmed:
- Reliable daughter data still matters most
- Balanced, health‑focused genetics outperform long‑term
- Proven bulls adapt better than untested genetics, no matter how formulas shift
That consistency continues to pay dividends, proof run after proof run.