Influential Polled sire LUSTER-P passes away

Select Sires announces the passing of 7HO14160 Cherry-Lily Zip LUSTER-P-ET. LUSTER-P passed away just weeks shy of his ninth birthday and will be remembered as one of the best customer satisfaction sires of all time. Producing nearly one million units of semen, LUSTER-P is the highest selling Polled sire in the history of the Holstein breed.

A 7HO12669 ZIPIT-P son out of Cherry-Lor KBoy Loma-ET (VG-85-VG-MS), LUSTER-P was bred by Hembury Farms, LLC and Marshman Farms of Muncy, Pennsylvania. “The original intent with the mating behind LUSTER-P was to try to create a breed-leading homozygous Polled sire,” said Rick VerBeek, senior Holstein sire analyst. “While we were not lucky enough to get a homozygous Polled bull, we succeeded in creating one of the breed’s most influential, all-around sires of recent times.”

LUSTER-P’s ability to transmit a balance of type and production traits made him an appealing sire to a wide variety of breeding programs. Siemers Lstr Hanan 33317-ET (EX-91-EX-MS) is arguably his most prolific daughter. The 2024 Global Cow of the Year, 33317 is the dam of popular sires 7HO16387 HANX-P, 7HO17158 HOLY-P and 250HO16498 HULU-RC. LUSTER-P’s legacy continues through his sons and grandsons, that are now leaving their mark on the Holstein breed.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc. is committed to enhancing the productivity and profitability of dairy and beef producers. Highly fertile semen and genetic consultation are provided by three farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives domestically, while World Wide Sires, Ltd. delivers international service. As the industry leader, Select Sires Inc. supplies farmers and ranchers with the world’s best genetics, services and programs.