Animal Science, Production and Welfare Division

The objective of the research is increased profitability, safe food production, employment and value creation in Norway.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Description

The division educates and does research related to farm animal husbandry. Veterinary studies like farm animal health and farm animal nursing are important. Within farm animal production, precision livestock farming is essential, with focus on animal welfare and efficient production.

The research work contributes with knowledge about efficient feed production, grazing, optimal animal nutrition, within satisfactory animal environment to meet ethological needs. The objective is increased profitability, safe food production, employment and value creation in the whole country.

Some of our projects:

EnMac

EnMac is part of a regional strategy that focuses on competence building in blue-green innovation in northern Norway and other areas of great importance to Norwegian politics and business. EnMac is based on research results from the consortium's long-term collaboration on the use of macroalgae as a feed source for ruminants.

​​
PROJECT LEADER
​​

Zero Emission Cowshed

The aim of the ZEC project is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from cowsheds by converting CH4 to CO2 through catalytic combustion of methane produced by the cattle. Utilizing the heat of combustion for energy purposes on the farm is part of the scope.

​​
PROJECT CONTACT
​​

Grazeland

The main goal of the project is to generate new knowledge that can contribute to the optimization of grazing in dairy herds with automatic milking.

​
PROJECT LEADER
​​

Investigating the role of marine seaweeds as an alternative feed source for land-based farm animals

Increased concerns on global population rise and higher competition between humans and animals for foods have urged use to identify alternative feeding materials for animals to establish a sustainable and more profitable livestock sector in the future. 

As seaweeds are an integral component of the Norwegian coastal ecosystems, this project will evaluate the impacts of seaweed-based diets on growth characteristics, health status and metabolic and endocrine function, and farm animals' overall production potential. Such information should help us assess whether seaweeds will serve as reliable feeding material for livestock production in the future. 

The project is funded by the Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture (FBA), Nord University.

Klikk her for å endre bildet
The team is collecting seaweeds in Bodø. 
PROJECT LEADER
​​

The Norwegian seaweeds - an alternative and environment-friendly feeding resource for livestock

The development of a sustainable livestock production sector is essential to feed the rising human population while maintaining environmental health. In collaboration with industry partners, this project aims to evaluate nutritive values, digestibility characteristics, and potential anti-methanogenic properties of different types and species of seaweeds available in central Norway. Thus, this project will contribute towards the commercialization of currently seaweed-based biomass for animal feeding. 

The project is funded by the Regional Research Fund (RFF Midt-Norge).

Klikk her for å endre bildet
Photo: Prabhat Khanal

PROJECT LEADER
​​

From by-products to novel protein - Bio-resource recycling using insect larvae

The overall goal of this project is to assess whether insect larvae, raised under locally available agricultural by-products, could be a domestic and sustainable source of protein in the future to improve the protein self-sufficiency of the Norwegian livestock sector. 

The project is supported by the Regional Research Fund (RFF-Trøndelag).

Klikk her for å endre bildet
Photo: Prabhat Khanal
PROJECT LEADER
​​

Exploring the anti-microbial properties of brown seaweeds

In this project, various brown seaweeds will be tested based on their potential anti-microbial properties in response to harvesting time and pre-treatments. This information helps to identify potential brown seaweed species of desirable anti-microbial characteristics. Thus, this project contributes towards the possible utilization of brown seaweeds as beneficial feed additives for farm animals in the future.

The project is supported by the Regional Research Fund (RFF-Trøndelag).

Klikk her for å endre bildet
Brown seaweeds. Photo: Prabhat Khanal.

PROJECT LEADEDR
​​

The application of an automated and integrated livestock management system for ruminants

This project aims to validate the recently installed Controlling and Recording Feed Intake (CRFI) system and integrate this with existing automated livestock management tools, such as Robot Milking System. The system will evaluate the impacts of various feeding materials on animal performance (feed intake, production) and welfare status of ruminants. 

The project is supported by the Regional Research Fund (RFF-Trøndelag).

Klikk her for å endre bildet
Controlling and Recording Feed Intake (CRFI) system. Photo: Prabhat Khanal.
PROJECT LEADER
​​

Establishing the Circular Economy-based livestock sector through collaborative Educational and Research Activities (CEER)

This project aims to develop and implement new educational and research activities in alternative feeding strategies via global cooperation (staff and student mobility) to create a more productive, sustainable, and environment-friendly livestock sector in the future.

The project primarily focuses on developing teaching methods and research programmess on three major alternative feed sources: by-products and forest biomass, insects (utilizing bio-wastes), and underutilized aquatic plants.

​​
​​






 Head of Division


Team

Academic staff


​Name​
​Position
​Place
​Hege Meldal
​Assistant Professor
​Bodø
​Heidi Vollan Solvik
​Assistant Professor
​Bodø
​Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
​Associate Professor

​Bodø
​Ioannis Vatsos
​Associate Professor
​Bodø

​Geir Næss
​Associate Professor
​Steinkjer
​Margarita Novoa-Garrido
​Associate Professor
​Bodø
​Ellen Marie Rosvold
​Associate Professor
Steinkjer​
​Prabhat Khanal
​Associate Professor
Steinkjer​
​Astrid Helland
​Assistant Professor
Steinkjer​
​Hege Overrein
​Assistant Professor
Steinkjer​
​Magnhild Oust Torske
​Assistant Professor
Steinkjer​

Researchers / postdoctors

​Name
​Position​
​Raphael Kubeba Tabase
​Postdoc

Technical staff


​Name
​Position
​Place
​Benedikte ​​Bøe
Head Engineer
​Steinkjer
​​Stine Mentzoni Eilertsen
​Staff Engineer
​Bodø

​Line Kristin Grendal
​Staff Engineer
​Bodø
​Guri Molden Kaldahl
​Head Engineer
​Steinkjer
​Martin Aune Nilsen
​​Staff Engineer
​​Bodø

PhD-students

​Name
​Place
​Uthpala Chandararathna
​Bodø
​Ying Yen
​Bodø
​Deepak Pandey
​Steinkjer
​Jonil Tau Ursin
​Steinkjer​ / Bodø
​Helena Sofia Gomes Costa
​​Steinkjer​ / Bodø
​Natalie Anne Steen​
​Steinkjer