Key Takeaways from the August Jersey Genetic Evaluations
The August genetic evaluations delivered exciting news for Jersey breeders, highlighting advancements in health traits, fertility measurements, and proven sire performance. With new industry traits, updates to the Herd Health Profit Dollars® (HHP$®)
index, and strong performances from both newly proven and established sires, dairy producers have more tools than ever to make profitable breeding decisions.
Select Sires' proven Jersey lineup continues to outperform breed averages, combining strong production, fertility, udder quality, mastitis resistance, and lifetime profitability. The current proven lineup, not including Showcase™ sires, averages 139 JPI™, nearly 500 pounds of milk, 2.0 DPR, and 15.6 JUI, all backed by an impressive 96% reliability.
HHP$ Index Updated for Modern Jersey Herd Goals
The Herd Health Profit Dollars Index was updated to place even greater emphasis on components and heifer health. The update reflects growing industry demand for healthier, more efficient Jersey cows that remain productive and profitable over multiple lactations.
Newly Proven Jersey Sires Making an Immediate Impact
7JE2163 CLEVER
A long-time standout genomic sire, CLEVER successfully transitioned into the proven lineup as the:
- #2 PGA 100 proven sire
- +141 JPI
- +446 HHP$
- 16.2 JUI™
- Strong DPR and mastitis resistance
Breeders continue to praise CLEVER daughters for their balance, functionality, udder quality, and longevity.
14JE2078 JX HAPPY {6}-P
As one of the breed's leading polled proven sires, JX HAPPY {6}-P offers:
- +123 JPI
- Top-ranking calf health traits
- Positive DPR
- Strong calf livability and disease resistance
His combination of polled genetics and calf health makes him especially attractive for commercial producers.
250JE2131 SKYFALL
SKYFALL entered the proven ranks as a Showcase bull with exceptional type credentials, including:
- Top Canadian LPI rankings
- Outstanding mammary system traits
- Strong dairy strength
- Deep cow family with elite classification scores
His daughters are already generating positive reports for udder quality and overall balance.
Global Impact of Proven Jersey Genetics
Several proven sires continue to receive recognition worldwide:
- 14JE1921 JX CRISPIN {5} has emerged as the breed's No. 1 JPI proven sire, combining elite fertility, productive life, calf wellness, and herd health traits while consistently delivering balanced, high-performing daughters.
- 7JE1758 JX THRASHER {6} continues to reinforce his status as one of the breed’s most trusted proven sires, producing durable, productive and trouble-free daughters that excel in commercial dairy environments.
- 7JE2071 JX DINER {6}-Pis rapidly climbing the proven rankings with a balanced package of production, fertility, calf wellness, and health traits that aligns with the needs of today's profit-focused Jersey herds.
- 7JE2033 CHARLTON remains a leading PGA 100 proven sire with strong fertility and calf wellness performance.
- 7JE1726 STARLORD maintains elite rankings across the United States, Canada and Australia thanks to his consistency and longevity.
- 7JE2023 UNCOMMON combines fertility, reproductive efficiency, and calf health with outstanding daughter performance.
- 7JE2022 OVERALLS continues earning praise from herds across the United States for balanced, productive daughters.
- 7JE1980 KAMAKAZI ranks among the top bulls globally, leading Australian genetic rankings and producing exceptional daughters in multiple countries.
- 7JE5032 VICTORIOUS is a globally proven and highly influential sire with nearly 7,000 daughters, exceptional show-ring success, strong fertility and type traits, and a track record of producing elite heifers and cows that continue to win major championships worldwide.
Proven Genetics Still Matter
While genomic selection continues to influence breeding decisions, this proof run highlights the value of proven genetics. High-reliability sires backed by extensive daughter data provide confidence, predictability, and long-term profitability for Jersey breeders.
With new health and fertility traits, refinements to economic indexes, and a lineup of proven sires excelling across multiple profit drivers, the August evaluations reinforce the industry's movement toward healthier, more productive, and more sustainable Jersey cattle.
Select Sires Continues to Dominate Elite Genetic Rankings
Despite the evaluation changes, one thing remained consistent: strong representation among the industry's highest-ranking sires.
Select Sires placed:
- 30 of the Top 100 TPI® sires
- Multiple new graduates among the breed's elite proven bulls
- Industry-leading numbers of highly reliable proven sires
This continued success demonstrates the value of selecting genetics that not only rank high genomically but also maintain performance as daughter data accumulates.
New Proven Graduates Making an Immediate Impact
7HO16644 RIMBOT
RIMBOT entered the proven lineup as the No. 1 Net Merit proven bull and a Top 5 proven TPI sire, delivering exceptional milk production, protein yield, mastitis resistance, and overall herd health while introducing valuable pedigree diversity.
250HO16420 BOATSHOW
BOATSHOW has reemerged as a top-ranked proven sire with strong production, health, conformation, and calf wellness traits, backed by over 600 daughters in his proof and an elite multigenerational cow family pedigree.
7HO16527 HOWITZER
HOWITZER debuted among the breed's elite proven sires, combining production, calf wellness, fertility, functional type, and strong Holstein Conformation Composite (HCC) performance in a package backed by a highly successful cow family.
250HO16508 SLEDGEHAMMER
SLEDGEHAMMER joins the proven ranks with more than 2,000 pounds of milk, strong udder traits, exceptional calf wellness scores, and a balanced profile that supports both commercial profitability and genetic advancement.
7HO16570 REAPER
REAPER’S daughters have impressed breeders with their balance, productivity, mastitis resistance, and functionality, making him an attractive option for herds seeking health-focused genetic progress.
7HO16520 PBJ
As one of the first major NxGEN® success stories, PBJ delivers elite production, fertility, calf wellness, mastitis resistance, and technician-favorite sire fertility in a highly balanced package.
Proven Sires Continue to Strengthen Their Legacy
7HO15396 HUCK
HUCK continues to rise among proven sires while establishing himself as an influential sire of sons, passing along strong production, excellent calf livability, balanced conformation, and outstanding reliability.
7HO16276 SHEEPSTER
One of the industry's most influential modern sires, SHEEPSTER maintained his elite status while benefiting from fertility evaluation updates and further validating his reputation for producing powerful, balanced, high-performing daughters.
What These Changes Mean for Dairy Producers
The August evaluations represent a major step forward in dairy cattle breeding. Updated fertility metrics provide a more accurate reflection of real-world reproductive performance, while HCC introduces a practical new approach to evaluating functional type.
Combined with a strong group of newly proven sires and industry-leading genetic programs, these updates provide breeders with more confidence than ever when selecting bulls that can improve both profitability and long-term herd success.