Cheryl Quinton PhD

Cheryl specialises in the design and development of breeding programmes globally, working at the interface of quantitative genetics and industry application. She partners closely with colleagues and clients to develop practical, evidence-based solutions in breeding programme design and selection index development. Her experience spans a wide range of species, including sheep, beef, dairy, fish, poultry, and crops.

Cheryl joined AbacusBio in 2015. Originally from Canada, she brings a strong combination of academic and industry experience, and is recognised for her ability to translate complex genetic and economic concepts into clear, structured insights that support effective decision-making. She is a trusted collaborator on projects requiring both technical depth and practical implementation.

Cheryl’s career highlights include: 

• Contributing to AbacusBio’s internationally recognised leadership in selection indexes and economic breeding objectives across diverse livestock systems
• Five years of research and teaching at the University of Guelph, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in animal breeding and quantitative genetics

Her focus within AbacusBio is:

• Selection index development
• Breeding programme design
• Greenhouse gas modelling

Selected Project Experience:

• Beef selection index development for the American Angus Association, Angus Australia, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, the Canadian Angus Association, and the Red Angus Association of America
• Dairy selection index development for DairyNZ, DataGene (Australia), and the Polish Dairy Federation
• AbacusBio–Bayer collaboration
• Evaluating the effects of selection index use on greenhouse gas emissions
• Breeding programme cost–benefit assessment