Written by Gary W. Rogers
August 2021 sire proofs are very similar to the April 2021 sire proofs for most sires illustrating the stability of the NR genetic evaluation system. Many NR bulls added daughters but no significant changes were observed for key sires who received their first daughter information.
New Norwegian Red sires
Several exciting new NR sires are now available for global markets and many recent top sires continue to be available. New bulls added since April 2021 for global markets include Fossesholm-P-ET (252NR12163), Hagemoen-P (252NR12114), Hauen-PP (252NR12136), and Sausvatn-PP (252NR12116). Several available top sires are homozygous polled (PP) and A2A2. In addition, Aland-PP (252NR12139) has the rare combination of PP, A2A2, and BB for kappa casein.
Fits most modern production systems
Norwegian Red crosses fit well into most modern facilities and production systems as pure NR are smaller than key dairy breeds including Holsteins, Fleckviehs, Montbeliardes, and Brown Swiss. Crossing NR with any of the larger dairy breeds will moderate size and reduce feed intake requirements.
The new traits Feed$aved and mature body weight were introduced in April 2021. These new traits are designed to help producers select NR sires with lower feed intake requirements and smaller mature body weights. Higher values for Feed$aved indicate lower dry matter intake requirements, hence, less feed or more feed saved.
You can read more about Feed$aved here
Recent Norwegian Red sires are available in many markets
The following list includes some selected NR sires that are available or will be available soon in many markets. Many of the bulls on this list have REDX available or will have it available in the near future.
Aland-PP (252NR12139) – very good all-around sire, well-balanced trait profile, excellent fat and protein percentages, excellent for heifer matings, PP, A2A2, and BB for kappa casein.
Alme (252NR12073) – excellent all-around sire, outstanding daughter yields, outstanding udder health, excellent udders, very good daughter fertility, good for heifer matings
Brumunddal-PP (252NR12062) – very good all-around sire, outstanding daughter fertility, good for heifer matings, PP, A2A2
Fossesholm-P-ET (252NR12163) – very good all-around sire, very good solids yield, udder health, udder conformation, feet and legs conformation and claw health, Pp, BB for kappa casein
Hagemoen-P (252NR12114) – outstanding milk, fat, and protein yield, very good udder health, udder conformation, small daughters that are outstanding for Feed$aved, Pp, A2A2, AB for kappa casein. A new bull that is sired by newly daughter proven sire Ofstad-P (see details below). Hagemoen-P will be a great sire for intensively managed herds.
Hauen-PP (252NR12136) – very well-balanced trait profile, excellent udder health, very good fat and protein (both yield and percentages), daughter fertility, calving ease, udder conformation, and Feed$aved. PP, A2A2
Ihlingen (252NR12046) – high solids yield and high component percentages, excellent udder health and daughter fertility, good for heifer matings, good for Feed$aved, A2A2
Jo-Onstad-P (252NR12064) – very high solids yield, excellent udders, Pp, A2A2. Very popular in some markets. Not for heifer matings.
Klopstad (252NR12068) – an outstanding combination of high solids yield, small daughter size, and good udders, excellent for heifer matings, excellent for Feed$aved, A2A2. Klopstad is very popular in many herds.
Kverneggen-P (252NR12104) – very good overall production with very high solids content, excellent udders, Pp, AB for kappa casein
Lynum (252NR12106) - very good all-around sire, well-balanced trait profile, very good solids yield with very good fat and protein percentages, very good udder health and udder conformation, good for heifer matings,
Maurstad-PP (252NR12009) – very good all-around sire, very high component percentages, excellent overall daughter health, very good for heifer matings, PP, A2A2
Oaland-PP (252NR12093) – very good all-around sire, well-balanced trait profile, excellent daughter fertility, very good udders, good for heifer matings, good for Feed$aved, PP, A2A2
Sausvatn-PP (252NR12116) – excellent solids yield with very high fat and protein percentages, excellent for heifer matings, excellent for Feed$aved, good udder health, daughter fertility and udders, PP, A2A2. Sausvatn-PP is a new bull that will quickly become very popular. Sausvatn-PP is sires by the newly daughter proven Ofstad-P (see comments on Ofstad-P below).
Sognnes (252NR12081) – very good trait profile, extremely high for fat and protein percentages, very good udders, A2A2 and AB for kappa casein
Storflor (252NR12027) – outstanding all-around sire, high component percentages, excellent mastitis resistance, excellent udders, very good for heifer matings, A2A2. Very popular sire in many markets.
Tjelmeland (252NR12044) – very good all-around sire, very high component percentages, excellent daughter health and fertility, high udders, excellent for heifer matings, excellent for Feed$aved, A2A2
Trondstu (252NR12024) - very good trait profile, very good udder health and udder conformation, good for heifer matings, A2A2 and AB for kappa casein
Ofstad-P joins several other available daughter proven sires
Ofstad-P (252NR11919) added his first daughters in milk since the April 2021 proof run (has 121 milking daughters now) and his trait profile looks similar to his previous genomic-based trait profile. Ofstad-P has a very well-balanced trait profile as his daughters have very good solids production, excellent fertility, excellent udder health, and small bodyweight (outstanding Feed$aved). Ofstad-P is also excellent for calving ease and stillbirths so he can be used safely on maiden heifers. Ofstad-P is A2A2 and is an excellent choice for herds that want highly reliable daughter-proven sires.
Other available daughter-proven sires include Alm (252NR11876), Hammeren (252NR11863), Hustad (252NR11817), Roen (252NR11690), and Skarphol (252NR11855). Alm now has 1349 daughters in milk and has a very good trait profile. He is especially good for all the key production traits. Alm transmits very high udders along with moderate stature and he can be safely used on heifers. Alm was very popular as a GS sire and he is still in high demand now that he is fully daughter proven.
Please check with your local supplier or contact Geno directly through our website or social media for the most recent info on availability.
The next official genetic evaluation will be available on December 7, 2021.
Go to the Norwegian Red Sire Catalogue
