From Calf to Elite Bull: How Geno's New Barn and Facilities Accelerate Success

Time to read: ca 4 min

Geno’s new barn and facilities streamline the path from calf to elite bull, marking 90 years of advancing Norwegian Red genetics and supporting farmers worldwide.

The new bull barn at Store Ree was opened on January 19, 2024. Photo: Turi Nordengen

Geno's investment in a new calf isolation unit and bull facility has significantly improved flexibility and efficiency in animal handling while enhancing animal welfare, employee health and safety (HMS), biosecurity, and production quality.

It has been a year since the new bull barn at Store Ree was completed and nearly two years since the calf isolation unit at Sletten in Lillehammer was introduced.

A More Streamlined and Efficient Animal Transfer Process

Geno's investments in new facilities have created a more efficient animal transfer system. All selected bull calves are tested for infectious diseases at the Sletten calf isolation unit before moving to Geno’s Øyer Testing Station in eastern Norway, an area known for its agricultural importance.

At Øyer, the animals maintain the same high health status as those at Geno’s new bull barn and production facility in Store Ree, ensuring smooth, timely transfers. In 2022, it took an average of 70 days for selected Norwegian Red young bulls to move from semen quality approval at Øyer to Store Ree. By 2024, this process is completed in just 14 days, greatly enhancing efficiency.

Once at Store Ree, approved semen straws are now produced in 16 days, four days faster than before. This means bulls begin production earlier, accelerating genetic progress. The average age for the first approved semen straw has decreased from 15.2 months in 2022 to 13.5 months in 2024.

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Semen collection now takes place in the new bull barn at Store Ree. While it previously took 70 days from approval at Øyer to transfer in 2022, the process is now completed in 14 days. Photo: June Witzøe.

Strengthened Biosecurity

In Norway, where livestock health standards rank among the highest globally, stringent biosecurity is essential for sustainable production. Geno has taken a proactive approach by building two smaller calf isolation units at Sletten instead of a single large facility. This setup minimizes risk: if one unit is exposed to infection or placed under quarantine due to animals from restricted herds, the other can remain operational.

This dual-unit strategy has proven highly effective, particularly during the ringworm outbreak in 2024, demonstrating the importance of robust contingency measures.

Geno implements a thorough sampling regimen to monitor animal health, ensuring disease risks are well-managed. These measures reinforce Norway’s leadership in livestock health and safeguard the genetic advancements at the core of Geno’s mission.

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Two new calf isolation units were built at Sletten in Lillehammer in 2023. Photo: Ingunn Nævdal.

Improved Animal Welfare and Employee Safety

Geno has leveraged its extensive expertise in animal welfare and worker safety in designing its new facilities. The barns at Sletten and Store Ree prioritize employee safety with features such as secure gating systems, multiple pens exit, and slip-resistant flooring. Tartan flooring in extraction rooms at Øyer and Store Ree provides a softer, less slippery surface that is also easy to clean.

The new barns also enhance animal welfare by providing individual pens for bulls, reducing stress and improving comfort. These changes have enabled bulls to reach production readiness more quickly.

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Individual pens for the bulls in the new bull barn have reduced animal stress and improved welfare. Photo: Margrete Nøkleby.

Reduced Waste and Improved Production Quality

Geno’s commitment to reducing waste and enhancing quality has driven several advancements. The introduction of CASA (Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis) at Øyer in 2022 has improved the objectivity of semen evaluations, ensuring only high-performing bulls are sent to Store Ree for production. This has allowed bulls to be tested earlier and transitioned to production as soon as they are ready.

While younger bulls in the system make direct quality comparisons challenging, continuous improvements in semen production have delivered positive results. Adjustments to freezing procedures for conventional semen have enhanced motility and survival rates, while the gender-sorting laboratory has achieved higher purity levels and minimal waste.

Driving Norwegian Red Genetic Progress Forward

Since its establishment in 1935, Geno has been dedicated to advancing Norwegian Red genetics and supporting farmers worldwide. This year marks 90 years of innovation, highlighting Geno’s unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable, and profitable solutions. Backed by the dedication of Norwegian dairy farmers, Geno continues to provide dairy producers globally with genetics that drive long-term success and sustainability.