Younes Miar, Dalhousie University

Research

Animal Genomics Animal Breeding Feed Efficiency Genome-wide Association Studies Genomic Selection Mink Growth Traits Machine Learning

Latest papers

Whole genome copy number variation analysis to detect genomic regions for resistance to Haemonchus contortus in Sheep.
BMC genomics · 2026
Candidate blood biomarkers linked with feed intake efficiency and weight gain in sheep.
Scientific reports · 2026
Genome-wide association studies for feed efficiency, production and feeding behavior traits in Canadian purebred Duroc pigs.
Journal of animal science · 2026 · senior author

All 39 publications

Latest funding

Development of genetic evaluation system for North American mink industry
NSERC · 2025 · Principal investigator
$240,000
Improvement of feed efficiency in Canadian swine industry through genomics and machine learning
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$240,000
Acceleration of improvement in health and production of mink through genomics and machine learning
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$89,466

All 6 grants and awards

39 publications.

01

Whole genome copy number variation analysis to detect genomic regions for resistance to Haemonchus contortus in Sheep.

Jawad H, Osonowo O, Gilleard JS, Thompson S, Miar Y, Manafiazar G

BMC genomics2026

DOI: 10.1186/s12864-026-13076-0 PMID: 42298390

02

Candidate blood biomarkers linked with feed intake efficiency and weight gain in sheep.

Osonowo O, Goldansaz SA, Lei Y, Gellatly D, Jawad H, Borzouie S, Markus S, Miar Y, Thompson S, Manafiazar G

Scientific reports2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-40850-7 PMID: 41792185

03

Genome-wide association studies for feed efficiency, production and feeding behavior traits in Canadian purebred Duroc pigs.

Kim B, Do DN, Jafarikia M, Tulpan D, Adewole D, Manafiazar G, Sullivan B, Holl J, Miar Y

Journal of animal science2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/jas/skag148 PMID: 42105253

04

Genetic parameters for feed efficiency, growth performance, and feeding behaviors traits in Canadian Duroc pigs.

Do DN, Jafarikia M, Maignel L, Tulpan D, Adewole D, Holl J, Sullivan B, Miar Y

Journal of animal science2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/jas/skag023 PMID: 41629767

05

Author Correction: Candidate serum metabolite biomarkers of subclinical Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep.

Jawad H, Gellatly D, Lei Y, Thompson S, Borzouie S, Osonowo O, Gilleard JS, Miar Y, Goldansaz SA, Manafiazar G

Scientific reports2025

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-34155-4 PMID: 41476095

06

Transcriptomic profiling of mink spleen infected by Aleutian mink disease virus: Insight into immune response.

Bishop DG, Farid AH, Do DN, Miar Y

Research in veterinary science2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2025.105842 PMID: 41005216

07

Candidate serum metabolite biomarkers of subclinical Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep.

Jawad H, Gellatly D, Lei Y, Thompson S, Borzouie S, Osonowo O, Gilleard JS, Miar Y, Goldansaz SA, Manafiazar G

Scientific reports2025

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-15690-6 PMID: 41034410

08

Characterization of runs of homozygosity islands in American mink using whole-genome sequencing data.

Davoudi P, Do DN, Rathgeber B, Colombo S, Sargolzaei M, Plastow G, Wang Z, Miar Y

Journal of animal breeding and genetics = Zeitschrift fur Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12859 PMID: 38389405

09

Identifying selection signatures for immune response and resilience to Aleutian disease in mink using genotype data.

Hu G, Do DN, Manafiazar G, Kelvin AA, Sargolzaei M, Plastow G, Wang Z, Davoudi P, Miar Y

Frontiers in genetics2024Senior author

DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1370891 PMID: 39071778

10

Identification of consensus homozygous regions and their associations with growth and feed efficiency traits in American mink.

Davoudi P, Do DN, Rathgeber B, Colombo S, Sargolzaei M, Plastow G, Wang Z, Miar Y

BMC genomic data2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1186/s12863-024-01252-8 PMID: 38982354

Development of genetic evaluation system for North American mink industry

Principal investigatorNSERC2025Mitacs Accelerate

Principal investigators: Miar, Younes

Keywords: Animal production and animal primary products; Animal management (animal diseases, breeding)

$240,000

Improvement of feed efficiency in Canadian swine industry through genomics and machine learning

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Miar, Younes Y

Keywords: animal breeding; animal genomics; feed efficiency; genome-wide association studies; genomic selection; growth traits; machine learning; sustainable development; swine

$240,000

Acceleration of improvement in health and production of mink through genomics and machine learning

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Miar, Younes Y

Keywords: animal breeding; animal genomics; feed efficiency; fur quality; genome-wide association studies; genomic selection; mink; reproduction traits

$89,466

Using genomics to understand the genetic architecture of tolerance to Aleutian disease in mink

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Miar, Younes

Keywords: Aleutian disease; Animal Breeding and Genetics; Animal Genomics; Mink

$203,000

Using genomics to understand the genetic architecture of tolerance to Aleutian disease in mink

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Miar, Younes

$12,500

Enhancing production in mink through advanced genomics

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Principal investigators: Miar, Younes Y

$610,392

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Agriculture, Faculty of
Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of
Animal Science and Aquaculture - Dalhousie University
Department of Animal Biosciences
Animal and Poultry Science
Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Animal Sciences and Aquaculture
Other

Co-authors at Dalhousie University, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Graham Plastow

Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of

11 shared papers, latest 2024

Stefanie Colombo

Animal Science and Aquaculture - Dalhousie University

3 shared papers, latest 2024

Dan Tulpan

Department of Animal Biosciences

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Deborah Adewole

Animal and Poultry Science

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Sean Myles

Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences

2 shared papers, latest 2021

Martine Boulianne

Sciences cliniques/Faculté de médecine vétérinaire

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Deborah Adewole

Animal Sciences and Aquaculture

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2025

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Animal Genomics Dear Professor Miar, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Whole genome copy number variation analysis to detect genomic regions for resistance to Haemonchus contortus in Sheep." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Development of genetic evaluation system for North American mink industry" (2025), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]