Christine Baes

Dr. Christine Baes is a Professor and Acting Associate Dean of External Relations at the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, and holds a Canada Research Chair in Livestock Genomics. She specializes in quantitative genetics, statistical genomics, and livestock breeding, with a focus on dairy cattle, turkeys, and goats. Her research bridges genomic technologies with practical applications to enhance animal health, productivity, and sustainability.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, University of Guelph (2004)
• Master of Science in Animal Welfare, Universität Hohenheim (2005)
• Doctor of Science in Quantitative Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology and Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel (2008)

Research Interests: Dr. Baes focuses on genomic selection, feed efficiency, methane emission reduction, and sustainable livestock breeding. Her work includes developing statistical models for genetic improvement and optimizing breeding strategies for long-term resilience.

Awards:

• 2015 Semex / Canadian Dairy Network Professorship
• 2019 Canada Research Chair in Livestock Genomics
• 2021 Ministers Award of Excellence

Advising & Grants: Dr. Baes supervises graduate students in genetics and genomics, with a focus on fostering independence and curiosity. She leads large-scale projects funded by federal/provincial grants and industry partnerships, including the Resilient Dairy Genome Project and Dairy Cluster 3.

Labs & Teams: Her team collaborates with researchers like Dr. Filippo Miglior and Dr. Flavio Schenkel on projects addressing genomic technologies, livestock health, and environmental sustainability.