The August 2025 genetic evaluations for Norwegian Red (NR) are now available. Models used for recent genetic evaluations were also used for this August proof run as no important changes were made to the genetic evaluation models for this proof run. However, many more genotypes and phenotypic records have been added recently so accuracies of genomic breeding values continue to increase.
Genomic breeding values for NR have impressive accuracy and little to no bias. This ensures that NR sires' genomic predictions accurately reflect daughter-based outcomes, giving customers confidence in the current NR genomic data.
Several of our top-selling sires, including 12222 Skoien and 12218 Grimeland, are now daughter-proven and have successfully confirmed their genomic predictions. Both sires continue to be in high demand, reinforcing the confidence dairy farmers place in our genetics.
Norwegian Red is also the leading breed for the polled gene within the Scandinavian Reds. In response to increasing global demand, we have intensified our focus on polled traits within our breeding program. Currently, approximately 35% of our active sires are homozygous polled (PP), including several top-ranking sires. This positive trend is expected to continue, allowing us to offer dairy producers elite Norwegian Red sires that also carry the PP trait.
Norwegian Red sires available in global markets
The August 2025 proof run introduces an exciting lineup of Norwegian Red bulls now available worldwide. These sires boast elite breeding values for production traits, along with impressive scores for key characteristics like udder health, fertility, and calving ease. Many of these bulls are homozygous polled (PP), ensuring all their calves will inherit the polled trait. For detailed availability, customers should consult their local distributor or Geno.
Below are highlights of a mix of existing and new exceptional sires on the market:
12426 NR Bentdal
Bentdal is an outstanding sire for herds that manage for high production, with extremely positive BVs for milk kg and fat & protein Kg. Also, his daughters will have good fertility and low somatic cell count. Bentdal can be used on maiden heifers, and he has very positive BVs for stillbirth as well. His daughters are expected to have good udder and great feet and legs conformation. A2A2 beta casein and AB kappa casein.
12433 NR Fretland-PP
Fretland-PP is a great choice for grazing herds focused on producing high milk solids mainly driven by high percentages. All progeny will be either homozygous or heterozygous polled. He is outstanding for both protein % and fat % and milk yield is slightly below breed average.
His daughters are expected to have high fertility and are outstanding for udder health and also for hoof/claw health. Excellent udder conformation.
Beta casein A2A2.
12431 NR Horjem-PP
Horjem-PP is an excellent high fat & protein % sire combined with positive milk yield. He is homozygous polled. He will be very popular in grazing herds and other herds looking for excellent fat percentage, protein percentages, daughter fertility, udder health and claw health.
Positive breeding values for calving ease and stillbirths make him a good choice for maiden heifers. Horjem-PP daughters are expected to have excellent udder conformation and very good feet and legs. A2A2 beta casein.
12399 NR Kvarberg-PP
Kvarberg-PP is an excellent all-around sire that is homozygous polled. He is positive for both yields and %. He will also sire great udder and feet & legs conformation. Easy calving. Kvarberg-PP is outstanding for daughter fertility and udder health. Beta casein A2A2.
12391 NR Laupen-PP
Laupen-PP has a great trait profile for grazing herds and other herds looking for high components, very good udder conformation and very good feet and legs. Laupen-PP is especially high for fat percentage and fat yield. He is very good for calving ease so is an excellent choice for maiden heifers. He will also moderate cow size making him an excellent all-around sire for herds that desire moderate cow stature and overall cow size. He is homozygous polled, A2A2 and red and white.
His offspring are expected to have more white than most NR sires and his offspring will likely have white as the majority coat color when mated to Holsteins or Holstein crosses.
12297 NR Muri-P
Muri-P is an outstanding sire for herds that manage for high production. He has already been used in many herds and his popularity will continue to increase where he is available. Muri-P is the highest sire for milk, fat and protein production released globally by Geno to date. Muri-P will sire good udder conformation, good feet and legs (with very good claw health) and excellent udder health.
Muri-P will reduce or moderate daughter size as his daughters will be smaller in body weight compared to average NR sires so customers can expect outstanding feed efficiency in Muri-P daughters. Muri-P is an excellent choice for maiden heifers.
Beta casein A2A2.
12417 NR Reinskloster
Reinskloster is an excellent high production sire with high milk yield and milk %, especially protein, providing excellent total milk solids production. His daughters are expected to have great longevity, great udder conformation - with excellent attachments - and very good feet and legs.
Reinskloster daughters will be very robust, adding a lot of strength to his progeny.
He is A2A2 beta casein and K-casein AB.
12222 NR Skoien
Skoien has become one of the most popular and exciting sires ever released by Geno. His daughters have calved in Norway and have also started internationally.
The feedback is very positive and they are performing as expected. He ranks extremely high on almost any index that might be used to choose sires for modern herds. Skoien is a tremendous all-around sire with extraordinary fat and protein production (for both high yields and percentages). His daughters will have outstanding udder conformation and excellent udder health. They will also have very good feet and legs and hoof health.
Skoien is very good for heifer matings, is A2A2 and his male offspring will have very good growth and beef characteristics. He is a must-use sire for intensively managed herds.
12432 NR Tangvollen-P
Tangvollen-P is an excellent all-around sire with high milk yield and milk %, especially fat, providing excellent total milk solids production. His daughters are expected to have much dairy type and great feed efficiency.
He’s very good for daughter fertility, and extremely good for udder health with very low somatic cell count and low mastitis frequency. Tangvollen-P can be used on maiden heifers and he is also a short gestation sire.
His daughters will have great udder conformation, with long teats, and very good feet and legs. Tangvollen-P will reduce or moderate daughter size as his daughters will be smaller in body weight compared to average NR sires so customers can expect outstanding feed efficiency in Tangvollen-P daughters. He is A2A2 beta casein.
The next official genetic evaluations will be available December 2, 2025.
