Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2025
Authors
Kristin Opdal Seljetun Erik Georg Granquist Eystein Skjerve Tone Kristin Bjordal Johansen Ingrid Olsen Amin Sayyari Morten Tryland Åsa Maria Olofsdotter Espmark Grete H. M. Jørgensen Janicke Nordgreen Ingrid Olesen Sonal Jayesh Patel Sokratis Ptochos Marco A. Vindas Tor Atle MoAbstract
VKM has assessed the risk of introduction and spread of bovine tuberculosis in Norway and cannot rule out that the disease still exists in Norway. There is a low risk of the disease being reintroduced with imported cattle, but the import of llamas and alpacas poses a greater risk. If the disease were to establish in Norway, there is a high risk of spread both among domestic animals and to wildlife. These are the main conclusions The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has made in a risk assessment commissioned by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Background Following the outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in 2022, VKM was asked to investigate the risk of introduction as well as the risk of spread and establishment of the disease in Norway. The disease primarily affects cattle, but other animals and humans can also be affected. Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic disease that is difficult to diagnose. Therefore, it may take months or years before infected animals are detected. This makes it challenging to eradicate the disease. Conclusions With today's very limited import, VKM concludes it is unlikely that bovine tuberculosis will be introduced to Norway with cattle. Since neighboring countries Sweden and Finland are free from the disease, migration of wildlife will not pose a risk of introduction. However, as the source of the 2022 outbreak has not been identified, it cannot be determined if the disease is still present in Norway. “Alpacas and llamas pose a greater risk. These species are particularly susceptible to the disease, and animals have been imported to Norway, also from countries where the bacterium is common in the cattle population. It is therefore likely that the bacterium could be introduced to Norway with these species if imports continue”, says Eystein Skjerve, Scientific leader of the project team. There is significant trade and transportation of live animals (cattle, alpacas, and llamas) within Norway. If bovine tuberculosis were to establish here, such movements would pose a significant risk of spreading the bacterium. Furthermore, manure from infected herds could pose a risk of spreading to livestock and wild animals. Additionally, contact between livestock and wild animals, such as badgers, wild boars, and various deer species, could lead to the spread of the disease to the wild population. If bovine tuberculosis is established in Norway, a control and eradication strategy would require considerable time and resources. If the disease is introduced to-, and established in wild animal populations, experience from other countries indicates that it will be very challenging to eradicate the disease. “The risk of transmission of bovine tuberculosis to humans is generally low. Veterinarians, farmers, and slaughterhouse workers have an increased risk of infection. If the disease is established in Norway, the greatest risk of transmission to humans is through the consumption of both unpasteurised milk and dairy products”, Skjerve says. Risk-Reducing Measures VKM was also asked to identify several measures that could reduce the risk of introduction and establishment of bovine tuberculosis in Norway: Avoid importing animals from countries and regions where bovine tuberculosis is present in livestock. Avoid importing roughage to Norway from countries and regions with bovine tuberculosis. Increase testing requirements for the trade and movement of alpacas and llamas inside Norway. In the event of an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis, reduce contact between livestock and wild animals and routinely test wild animals (badgers, wild boars, and deer species). (...)
Authors
G. Brundu S. Follak J. Pergl D. Chapman E. Branquart S. Buholzer Inger Sundheim Fløistad G. Fried M. Herbst E. Marchante Valkenburg van Valkenburg R. TannerAbstract
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Authors
Atle Wibe Berit Marie Blomstrand Lisa Deiana Davide Bochicchio Tommy Ruud Richard Helliwell Matthias Koesling Anne Grete Kongsted Marina Štukelj Marina Spinu A Vasiu Andrew Richard Williams Amalie Camilla Pedersen Helena Meijer Stig Milan ThamsborgAbstract
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Authors
Darius KviklysAbstract
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Abstract
Large herbivores at northern latitudes often forage on agricultural farmland. In these populations, the presence of both resident and migrant individuals (termed partial migration) is common, but how migrants and residents differ in their selection of farmland is not well-understood. Higher access to farmland may provide benefits to residents compensating for not following the ‘green wave’ of emerging vegetation such as migrants. According to sexual segregation theory, males and females differ in body-size-related nutritional needs and risk sensitivity associated with farmland. Yet, how the sexes differ in the selection of farmland through an annual cycle remains unclear. We quantified seasonal variation in the selection of farmland by partially migratory red deer (Cervus elaphus) at broad, landscape scale and at fine, within-home range scale using 16 years of data (2005–2020) from 329 females and 115 males in Norway. We tested predictions related to the partial migration and sexual segregation theories using resource selection functions. We predicted higher selection for farmland by residents than by migrants, and higher selection by females than by males due to higher nutritional needs, but that higher perceived predation risk would impact their diurnal selection patterns. The time spent on farmland was higher in winter (14%–18%) than in summer (8%–14%). Residents selected farmland more than migrants mainly at broad, landscape scale, while differences were smaller and less consistent at a fine, within-home range scale. Females showed higher broad-scale selection for farmland in winter, whereas males showed higher selection in summer. At a fine, within-home range scale, females selected farmland more in summer during darkness, whereas sex differences were small otherwise. The fine-scale selection of farmland was markedly higher during low-light conditions than in daylight. A high population density index was correlated with high broad-scale selection of farmland, i.e. high farmland availability in the home ranges, whereas the effect of the density index was weak at a fine, within-home range scale. Our study emphasises how hypotheses deriving from the theories of partial migration and sexual segregation can improve our understanding of ungulates' selection of farmland. The higher selection by residents during summer highlights the importance of retaining landscape connectivity, allowing for migration and reducing pressure on local resources.
Authors
Richita Saikia Athanasios Kaldis Carl Jonas Jorge Spetz Basanta Kumar Borah Andreas VoloudakisAbstract
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Authors
Wendy Wuyts Nhat Strøm-Andersen Shumaila Khatri Arild Eriksen Per F. Jørgensen Arild Øvergaard Emil Rygh Angelica Kveen Alexander Mertens Jannicke Stadaas Inger Gamme Veronique Vasseur Anders Q. Nyrud Kristine NoreAbstract
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Authors
Erik J. JonerAbstract
No abstract has been registered