09-05-2025
Meet the world's largest Norwegian Red herd, based in Co. Cork
Nestled in north Co. Cork, one farm stands out as a shining example of how Norwegian Red cattle can revolutionise Irish dairy farming.
Mike Dunne, along with his father Tom and uncle Mikey, farm a large Norwegian Red herd in Kilworth, Co. Cork with 400 pedigree cows.
A farm at the heart of innovation
The farm is a testament to how Norwegian Red genetics can shape productivity and sustainability.
Mike's father Tom began breeding Norwegian Red cows almost 30 years ago, a breed renowned for their ease of management, health, and adaptability to Irish conditions.
The farm's extensive landscape includes steep terrain and long walking distances, yet the cows excel without compromising on health or milk yields.
Mike Dunne said: 'Our Norwegian Reds are easy calving, robust, and efficient. They handle the Irish pasture system perfectly—walking long distances daily without fuss.
'Their strong feet and legs, combined with excellent udder health, mean fewer veterinary issues and less labour in daily management.'
Genetic selection and farm success
The Dunne family use mainly Norwegian Red sexed semen on their herd, focusing on high milk solids sire, temperament, and fertility.
The Norwegian total merit indexes (TMI) are primarily used when selecting sires, due to the extensive amount of information available on each bull.
Mike Dunne on his farm in Kilworth, Co. Cork. Source: Dovea Genetics
The Dunnes' careful breeding strategy has led to incredible fertility in the herd, with 60% holding to first serve annually, less than 10% empty rate and a 9-week breeding season, with tail paint being the only heat detection system in place.
Most of the herd have already had two or three cycles before breeding begins.
Almost 70% of the cows receive sexed semen with a 67% conception rate to sexed semen. The remainder of the cows are bred to Dovea Genetics dairy beef sires.
Some of the sires used on the herd this year include:
Krovoll (NR4941)
Hallanger (S4466)
Storflor (S3686)
On the dairy-beef side, a range of breeds are used, including Limousin, Aubrac, Red Angus, Speckle Park, and Belted Galloway.
Working with a red and white herd, the Dunne family can capitalise on the current demand for coloured female calves.
Health and sustainability on the ground
The Dunnes' cows walk up to 2.5km per day for milking on a steep incline, so maintaining good feet and legs in the herd is a must for Mike.
Since switching, the herd has had very little issue with lameness or claw health.
One of the farm's key successes is the exceptional udder health in the herd. Thanks to the breed's natural disease resistance, the farm minimises the use of antibiotics, promoting more sustainable and cost-effective milk production.
The Norwegian Red cows are much stronger and more robust than their black and white counterparts, have an increased cull cow value and a premium market for their beef calves.
Dovea Genetics' Norwegian Red sire range
Dovea Genetics collaborate exclusively with Geno Norwegian Red – the sole distributors of Norwegian Red genetics in the world.
Using both the TMI and EBI, Dovea Genetics offer the greatest Norwegian Red sires available for Irish systems, allowing farmers to continually improve herd performance, while aiding in the production of more resilient, productive cows capable of excelling in Irish conditions.
Benefits of Norwegian Red genetics
Norwegian Reds are renowned across the globe for their high fertility, longevity, and efficient milk production, making them ideally suited to the Irish dairy industry.
Additionally, the breed exhibits excellent udder health and low somatic cell counts, leading to improved herd health and reduced veterinary costs.
Incorporating Norwegian Red genetics into your herd can enhance productivity, improve animal welfare, and support a more productive herd, making them a valuable choice for Irish farmers aiming to optimise their farm.
The Dunnes' farm exemplifies how Irish dairy farmers can harness the advantages of Norwegian Red genetics to create resilient, high-performing cows tailored to Ireland's unique landscape.
Dovea Genetics are the exclusive distributors of the world's leading Norwegian Red genetics in Ireland.
The full Norwegian Red range available from Dovea Genetics can be viewed in the Dovea Genetics 2025 Coloured Dairy Directory.
Contact your local Dovea Genetics sales representative today to explore how Norwegian Red genetics can benefit your farm and help you achieve a healthier, more profitable dairy herd.
