I conduct research aimed at improving dairy cow welfare, health, and reproductive performance through integration of sensor data, milk analytics, and national registry data. My work bridges clinical herd health management, epidemiology and precision livestock farming.

I lead the iKu project (NRC), developing innovative analyses of milk components (FTIR), AMS sensor data, and health registries to improve detection of metabolic imbalance, mastitis, and reproductive disorders. Previously, I led the AMS project (NRC) on management and breeding strategies in automatic milking systems, focusing on somatic cell count dynamics, pathogen transmission, and milking-time data.

Core research areas include:
• Udder health and mastitis epidemiology
• Transmission modelling of intramammary infections
• Precision indicators of metabolic and reproductive status
• FTIR-spectroscopy based milk diagnostics
• Fertility monitoring and AI management

I have supervised 10 PhD candidates in dairy cattle health, reproduction, and precision monitoring. My research contributes to subclinical disease detection, improved fertility management, and evidence-based health and welfare monitoring in automated dairy systems. I welcome collaboration within precision livestock farming, AI-based health prediction, sensor validation, breeding for robustness and sustainable dairy production systems.

Olav Reksen, DVM, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) is Norway’s only institution educating veterinarians and veterinary nurses. We are located at Campus Ås in modern facilities, the faculty integrates education, clinical services, and research in animal health, welfare, and food safety. It includes strong research environments in production animal medicine, epidemiology and reproduction in large animals. A key asset is the Centre for Research in Farm Animals (SHF) which provides controlled experimental facilities for studies on nutrition, metabolism, reproduction, health, and welfare in cattle, small ruminants, pigs, and poultry. Combined with access to national livestock registries and close collaboration with the dairy industry, this offers unique opportunities for integrating experimental and large-scale field data.