For the first time, Geno’s research and development team has calculated genomic breeding values for dry matter intake (feed consumption) and methane emissions across the Norwegian Red population.
These new genomic evaluations are built on more than four years of continuous data collection from commercial Norwegian dairy herds, using individual cow-level records. The extensive dataset provides a strong foundation for identifying animals with superior genetic potential for both feed efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
This development represents a significant step forward in Geno's commitment to breeding dairy cattle that are not only highly productive and healthy, but also more sustainable. Feed costs remain the largest variable expense on most dairy farms, and genetics that enable cows to produce the same level of milk with lower feed intake can substantially improve farm profitability. At the same time, selecting animals with genetically lower methane emissions offers a permanent and cumulative way to reduce the environmental footprint of dairy production across future generations.
The introduction of these traits further strengthens the Norwegian Red breeding program's focus on balancing profitability, efficiency, animal welfare, and sustainability. Full implementation of the new breeding values is planned during 2026.
Polled Genetics: A Long-Standing Norwegian Red Advantage
Polled genetics continue to be one of the distinguishing strengths of the Norwegian Red breed.
Naturally hornless (polled) cattle provide important economic, management, and animal welfare benefits by eliminating the need for dehorning and reducing the risks of injuries to both animals and farm personnel.
Norwegian Red has historically maintained the highest frequency of polled animals among the world's major dairy breeds, and this competitive advantage remains strong today. Years of focused breeding have significantly increased the availability of elite polled genetics throughout the population.
Importantly, many of the breed's highest-ranking sires are now homozygous polled. This demonstrates that selecting for polled genetics no longer requires any compromise in overall genetic merit. Dairy producers can confidently choose polled sires while continuing to make progress in production, fertility, health, longevity and feed efficiency.
A lineup of new and currently available Norwegian Red sires worth checking out:
12504 NR SKJELDAL-PP - is a new released homozygous polled sire with outstanding udders and feet & legs conformation. Low maintenance, will moderate both size and stature. Very positive daughter fertility, udder health and claw health. A2A2.
12511 NR NIGARD-PP - is a new released homozygous polled sire that combines positive milk yield with high protein %. Exceptional daughter fertility, very easy calving, outstanding udders. Nigard-PP is well suited to AMS systems. His dam in 1st lactation (305d) delivered 9,148 Kg milk, 4.75% Fat & 3.89% Protein. A2A2 beta casein.
12525 NR VESTAMANN-PP-ET - is a new released homozygous polled sire with high milk production. Excellent daughter fertility and claw health. Easy calving, daughters will also have udders very well conformed. A2A2 and K casein AB.
12491 NR HORNE-PP - is a homozygous polled sire with excellent milk production and positive % combined with great daughter fertility and udder health. Shallow udders with strong attachments and desired teat length. His daughters will also have very healthy claws. A2A2 and K casein AB.
12503 NR GRUDE-PP - is a homozygous polled sire with balanced milk production and with top breeding values for health traits & fertility. Excellent milking speed, very positive longevity, very good udders and F&L conformation. Fits well herds with robotic milking systems. Daughters will be short in stature and very robust. A2A2 & K casein BB.
12493 NR TVERAAEN-PP - is a homozygous polled sire with great milk solids production driven by both yields and %. Fantastic udder health and daughter fertility, very easy calving. Very positive longevity, great udders and F&L with strong claw health. Medium size cows. A2A2.
12489 NR EINREM-PP - is a homozygous polled sire that breeds cows with very low maintenance and short stature. Milk yield and % are both above breed average. Very easy calving, excellent claw health, great udders with strong attachments and ligament. A2A2.
12479 NR EIDEM-PP - is a homozygous polled sire which also breeds cows with very low maintenance and low stature. Balanced milk production with positive yields and %. Very good daughter fertility, great milking speed, very good udder conformation. A2A2.
12467 NR AAKER-PP-ET - is a homozygous polled sire with very high milk, protein and fat yields. Easy calving, very good F&L conformation and strong claw health. A2A2.
12464 NR TYNES-ET - Impressive milk solids production with both high milk yield and %. Excellent daughter fertility, very good udders. Daughters will be medium size with a lot of strength. A2A2.
12492 NR VIGDAL-PP - is a homozygous polled sire with high protein & fat Kgs. Very positive daughter fertility, low somatic cell count and very easy calving. Low maintenance and short stature daughters. A2A2.
12481 NR MIDOY-PP - is a homozygous polled sire that offers a strong combination of high milk solids production, high fertility and great health traits. Great udders and very positive BV for longevity. A2A2.
12431 NR HORJEM-PP - exceptional top ranked all-around homozygous polled sire with very positive milk % and superior daughter fertility and health traits. Medium size cows with strength, great udders and F&L conformation. Horjem-PP is sired by 12265 NR Smenes-P, currently the greatest Norwegian Red sire of all time for milk Kg. A2A2.
12425 NR ISFJORDEN – fantastic combination of high fat & protein Kgs and low maintenance. Isfjorden is an extremely feed efficient sire. Breeds cows with high production, superb udders and feet & legs. A2A2 and K casein AB.
12391 NR LAUPEN-PP - Laupen-PP has a great trait profile for 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 he 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.
12432 NR TANGVOLLEN-P - Tangvollen-P is an excellent all-around sire with high milk yield and outstanding milk %, 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. 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. A2A2.
The August 2026 US fertility evaluation updates improved the accuracy and stability of reproductive trait breeding values, causing some reranking, mainly among young genomic bulls, while established bulls remained largely unaffected. For more information: CDCB - August 2026 Evaluation Changes: What's New?
The next official genetic evaluations will be available December 1, 2026
