With breeding season just around the corner on a lot of farms, breeders will be looking at what bulls are leading the current active bull lists.

The latest run of ICBF evaluations took place in November 2025, with the next run due to take place in March 2026. Although November seen a number of key changes, many of the bulls at the top of the replacement, terminal and dairy-beef-index (DBI) lists remained the same.

Replacement

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At the top of the replacement index is the Angus bull, Kealkil Prime Lad. Available from Dovea Genetics, Prime Lad holds pole position with a replacement index value of €280, a remarkable €35 ahead of the bull in second position.

The 2017-born son of Te Mania Berkley ranks in the top 10% across all breeds for a number of key traits, such as milk, fertility, age at finish, gestation and calving ease.

However, in the bottom 10% for daughter calving ability, carcase weight and cull cow weight, many question his clear position at the top of the replacement list. Seven Angus bulls make up the top 10, along with two Aubrac and one Shorthorn.

Terminal

A number of bulls are battling it out for top spot on the terminal list. Just leading the terminal list with an index value of €217 is the Limousin bull Tomschoice Oriflamme from the National Cattle Breeding Center (NCBC).

The 2018-born son of Mereside Leo ranks in the top 10% across all breeds for many of the main terminal traits, such at carcase weight, feed intake, conformation, carcase fat and calving ease. Two more Limousin make it into the top 10, along with five Charolais and two Belgian Blues.

Dairy-Beef-Index

The DBI is headed up by Dovea Genetics’ Limousin sire, Drumline S1185.

Sitting at the top of the list with an index value of €216, the 2021-born son of Tomschoice Lexicon ranks in the top 1% across all breeds for carcase weight, conformation and also for the beef-sub-index.

Limousin and Angus both have four sires in the top 10, along with one Charolais and one Aubrac.