Our tasks

NordGen Farm Animals was founded in 1984 under the name Nordic Gene Bank Farm Animals (NGH). From January 2008 the sector for Farm Animals was merged with the sectors for plant and forest genetic resources to Nordic Genetic Resource Center, NordGen.

NordGen Farm Animals shall, as the Nordic center of competence on Farm Animal Genetic Resources
contribute to:

Characterization of farm animal breeds, by mapping which breeds do we have, status of each breed, and what are their respective traits?

Maintenance of diversity within and between breed.

Evaluate each breeds' value for conservation
Establish and support maintenance efforts

Sustainable use

Secure sustainable breeding work adjusted to small populations
Stimulate for optimal national storage of semen and embryos and easy access to genetic material
Contribute to sustainable breeding programs adjusted to the users of the breed
Stimulate product development based on the different breeds traits
Promote sustainable breeding work in the commercial populations, with emphasis put on maintaining genetic diversity, health and fertility without too much inbreeding.

Communicate the Nordic countries policies and competence within our field of work.

NordGen also initiate projects to obtain increased knowledge and develop improved methods and tools to fulfill our tasks.

Responsible: Benedicte Lund

NordGen Head Office
NordGen Plants
Box 41, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden
Visiting address: Smedjevägen 3
Tel: +46 40 53 66 40
Fax: +46 40 53 66 50

NordGen Farm Animals
NordGen Forest
Postboks 115, NO-1431 ÅS, Norway
Visiting address: Høgskolevien 8, ÅS
Phone: +47 64 94 97 00/+47 64 94 80 00
Fax: +47 64 94 29 80

NordGen Farm Animals
coordinates the work on promoting the real value of farm animal genetic resources (AnGr), in the Nordic countries. We contribute to categorization, conservation and sustainable utilization of farm animal breeds in the Nordic countries. We also promote Nordic competance and views on the value of AnGr, within the Nordic countries as well as internationally.