Andy Robinson

J. Andrew B. Robinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Guelph and a Ph.D. in Animal Breeding, Statistics, and Computing from Cornell University. His research focuses on livestock genetic improvement, particularly in swine and aquaculture species, leveraging quantitative trait loci (QTL), statistical modeling, and bioinformatics. He leads projects on bacon quality in pigs, cod breeding programs, and service dog genetics.

Dr. Robinson teaches courses in quantitative genetics and companion animal breeding, emphasizing e-learning and distance education. He received the OAC Distinguished Teaching Award in 2014. His work bridges academia and industry, aiming to enhance productivity and sustainability in livestock and aquaculture sectors through genetic selection and genomic tools. Collaborations with breeding companies and national initiatives ensure practical application of his research.

Key research themes include improving sow productivity, cod growth traits, and reducing environmental impacts via feed efficiency. His lab supports over 20 graduate and undergraduate students annually, many of whom secure industry roles post-graduation. Dr. Robinson’s publications span genetic parameters, QTL detection, and genomic selection strategies in pigs, cod, and dairy cattle.

Scientific achievements include pioneering work on cortisol responsiveness in cod and QTL mapping in Holstein cattle. He serves on committees for national breeding programs and actively mentors students in both traditional and distance learning formats.