University of Guelph: A global leader advancing animal welfare, health, and science research
The Department of Animal Biosciences (ABSc) at the University of Guelph is an internationally recognised leader in animal health, welfare, and sustainable production systems.
ABSc, part of the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph, has built a legacy of advancing Canada’s agri-food sector through innovation, research, and education. Today, it is home to more than 24 faculty members, 150 graduate students, and 1,500 undergraduates, making it one of the most influential animal science departments globally.
ABSc’s mission is to understand the biology of animals and apply this knowledge to improve food production, animal welfare, and companion animal health. Its work is deeply integrated with industry and government partnerships. Through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Ontario Government and the University of Guelph, ABSc researchers have access to world-class facilities, ensuring their work has both academic and practical impact.
Educationally, ABSc offers diverse undergraduate and graduate programmes. These include degrees in Animal Biology, Animal Science, and Equine Management at the undergraduate level, and MSc and PhD programmes at the graduate level. These programmes are supported by dynamic, well-funded research streams that prepare students to become leaders in agriculture, veterinary sciences, and animal welfare.
ABSc’s research spans multiple specialised centres, each contributing to progress in animal sciences:
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW): One of the world’s largest animal welfare research groups, CCSAW influences global policy and practice in animal care.
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock (CGIL): A powerhouse in livestock genetics and genomics, CGIL integrates quantitative genetics, functional genomics, and advanced prediction models to improve disease resistance, feed efficiency, and sustainability.
- Aquaculture Centre: Established in 1988, this centre supports Ontario’s aquaculture industry through research on fish genetics, nutrition, physiology, and ecosystem impacts.
- Centre for Nutrition Modelling (CNM): CNM applies One Health principles by developing computational models linking nutrition, physiology, production systems, and environmental outcomes.
Beyond these centres, ABSc leads research in dairy, swine, poultry, beef, and companion animals. In dairy science, faculty investigate genomics, nutrition, reproduction, and behaviour to improve herd health and sustainability. Swine research addresses welfare concerns, fertility prediction, and precision feeding. Poultry research integrates nutrition, physiology, and welfare to support the industry’s transition to cage-free systems. Beef research focuses on feed efficiency, methane reduction, and genetic improvement. Companion animal research explores nutrition, metabolism, and physiology in dogs, cats, and horses, with applications in health, behaviour, and disease prevention.
ABSc’s holistic approach – spanning genetics, physiology, nutrition, behaviour, and welfare – embodies the One Health philosophy, linking animal and human wellbeing. Its faculty not only advances science but also shapes policy, trains future leaders, and collaborates with industry to ensure sustainable progress in agriculture and animal care.
Areas of expertise
- Animal welfare and behaviour
- Poultry welfare and feather pecking behaviour
- Equine welfare and human-horse relationships
- Housing systems and management for laying hens
- Policy development and advisory roles
- Genetics and genomics
- Livestock genetic improvement (disease resistance, feed efficiency, methane reduction)
- Dairy genomics (fertility, metabolic stability, resilience)
- Beef genomics and multi-omics approaches
- Advanced genomic prediction and phenotyping
- Nutrition and physiology
- Dairy cattle nutrition, metabolism, and rumen development
- Swine nutrition, enzyme biotechnology, and microbiome modulation
- Poultry nutrition and skeletal development
- Companion animal nutrition and metabolism (dogs and cats)
- Equine nutrition and inflammation physiology
- Aquaculture
- Fish genetics, nutrition, and gut microbiota
- Nutrient utilisation and ecosystem impacts
- Welfare standards and industry codes of practice
- Computational and systems modelling
- Biomathematical and machine-learning models for nutrition and physiology
- Whole-animal modelling linking biochemical mechanisms to production outcomes
- Large-scale biological data analysis for sustainability and welfare
Research interests
- Sustainable food animal production
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in dairy, swine, and beef systems
- Improving feed efficiency and nutrient utilization across species
- Developing precision feeding strategies for livestock
- Animal health and resilience
- Early-life interventions to shape long-term immunity and metabolic health
- Disease resistance and resilience traits in livestock
- Reproductive physiology and fertility prediction in swine and dairy cattle
- Welfare-oriented innovations
- Transitioning poultry to cage-free housing systems
- Addressing welfare concerns in swine castration and boar taint
- Enhancing equine welfare through better understanding of human-animal interactions
- Companion animal science
- Nutrition and metabolism in dogs and cats
- Nutraceutical interventions for equine cartilage and joint health
- Understanding leaky gut syndrome in horses
- Policy and knowledge transfer
- Translating research findings into industry guidelines and global policy
- Collaborating with government and industry to shape sustainable practices
