Select Sires recently unveiled one of its strongest NxGEN®
and GForce™ lineups to date, highlighting a group of genomic Holstein sires designed to improve profitability, herd health, fertility, and milk components.
Seven years into the NxGEN program, the latest release features multiple bulls ranking near the top of the industry for TPI®, NM$, Herd Health Profit Dollars® (HHP$®
), DWP$®, and mastitis resistance. The lineup reflects a growing industry focus on balanced genetics that deliver both production and long-term herd sustainability.
Key Genetic Trends Driving the New Lineup
Noteworthy themes:
- Higher fat and protein production
- Strong fertility and conception rates
- Industry-leading mastitis resistance
- Improved calf health and livability
- Better feed efficiency and wellness traits
- Greater genetic diversity
- Expanded polled and Red genetics offerings
These advancements allow dairy producers to improve profitability without sacrificing health or type.
Standout Next Generation Sires
Among the most talked-about bulls were 507HO18241 FORMAL and 14HO18299 INTERSECT, two 14HO17263 KINGDOM sons from the influential Sheepster 4667 cow. FORMAL excels for components, health traits, and overall profitability, while INTERSECT offers higher milk volume with similar wellness advantages.
614HO18123 BAELUM emerged as one of the most heavily used mating sires in the Select Sires program due to his elite genomic ranking, strong health traits, and pedigree flexibility.
Several promising 7HO17142 STAGGER sons were highlighted, including 507HO18102 RICHARD CHICHESTER, which combines high TPI, excellent fertility, mastitis resistance, and strong conformation.
The Continued Influence of 7HO16276 SHEEPSTER
A major storyline throughout the episode was the ongoing impact of SHEEPSTER. Numerous top-ranking young sires trace back to Sheepster daughters and granddaughters, reinforcing the sire’s reputation for producing elite genetics, exceptional health traits, and long-term consistency.
Polled Genetics Continue to Gain Momentum
Demand for polled dairy genetics remains strong, with 550HO18402 HI-BALLER-P, 7HO18403 HI-KOOP-P, and 250HO18356 GOLDEN-P leading the way.
HI-BALLER-P was repeatedly described as a "must-use" sire thanks to his combination of fertility, type, health traits, and polled genetics. These bulls demonstrate that breeders no longer need to compromise performance to incorporate the polled trait into their herds.
14HO17486 COBOT and the Next Wave of Sire Fathers
Select Sires emphasized the growing impact of COBOT, one of the breed's top livability bulls and an increasingly influential sire father. Nearly 100 COBOT sons are currently under evaluation, with many ranking among the company's highest genomic young calves.
This positions COBOT genetics to play a major role in future breeding programs.
Showcase™ and Type-Oriented Genetics
For breeders focused on conformation and cow families, bulls such as 250HO16490 LOMBARDI and 7HO18409 OUTLAW-P continue to generate excitement. Their daughters are earning attention for exceptional udders, strong frames, and high classification scores, making them popular options for both type and commercial-minded breeders.
Red Genetics Continue to Expand
The episode also showcased advances in Red genetics, including sires such as 14HO18196 PIERCE RC, 250HO18217 ATHENS-RED, 7HO18399 POWERCORE-RED, and 250HO18398 ROADHOUSE-RED. These bulls offer competitive genomic rankings while delivering strong fertility, wellness, and production traits.
Looking Ahead
The latest Select Sires lineup demonstrates how modern dairy genetics are evolving beyond production alone. Today's leading bulls combine milk components, fertility, health, longevity, and conformation into complete genetic packages that meet the needs of both commercial and progressive breeding programs.
With influential bloodlines such as SHEEPSTER, KINGDOM, STAGGER and COBOT driving the next generation, dairy producers have more opportunities than ever to build healthier, more profitable, and more sustainable herds.