Gunnar Klemetsdal

Gunnar Klemetsdal is a Professor at the Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). His research focuses on genetics and breeding across a range of species, including dairy and beef cattle, sheep, salmon, tilapia, and even kelp, with an emphasis on feed efficiency, health, robustness, and sustainable production systems.

His research interests span animal genetics, genomic selection, reproductive genetics, and life cycle assessment in livestock systems. He applies quantitative genetics to improve breeding programs, particularly in challenging environments such as Ethiopia, and integrates allocation theory to define future breeding goals. His work bridges traditional animal breeding with modern genomic tools like runs of homozygosity mapping.

Gunnar Klemetsdal is actively supervising multiple PhD candidates in diverse areas, including male fertility in dairy cattle, sheep breeding in Ethiopia, and kelp genetics. He leads work packages in major research initiatives such as Foods of Norway, focusing on feed efficiency and animal robustness. His collaborative research extends to projects on Nile tilapia growth, adult ewe weight, and beef cattle breeding.

He has a long-standing publication record in horse breeding and continues to contribute to scientific literature across terrestrial and aquatic species. His work emphasizes sustainable and efficient animal production through genetic improvement.

• Henriette Berg Olsen – PhD on genetics of male fertility in dairy cattle
• Haile Weleregay Gebreslase – PhD on breeding program for sheep in Ethiopia
• Torgunn Skjerve – PhD on life cycle assessment in dairy cattle production
• Line Sass Kierkegaard – PhD on future breeding goals using robustness and allocation theory
• PhD student (to be employed) – co-supervising on kelp breeding

He collaborates with researchers such as Borhild Hillestad (runs of homozygosity), Kassaye Balkew Workageng (Nile tilapia genetics), and Signe Ulse Narvestad (beef cattle breeding).