Ron Lewis

Ph.D., Animal Science, Virginia Tech, 1990
M.S., Animal Breeding, Texas A&M University, 1986
B.S., Animal Science, University of California-Davis, 1981

RESEARCH

My research interests are in quantitative genetics and genomics with two main themes: (i) defining pragmatic strategies to improve the reliability of genetic evaluation, and thereby enhancing selection response, in livestock species; and, (ii) understanding how animals, changed through artificial selection, are influenced by and interact with their environment. This work involves a mix of theory, simulation, and field studies, with species emphases in sheep, beef, and poultry, with close collaborations in North America, Great Britain, and Australia.

Research projects that I currently have underway are: (i) predicting intake and diet selection in grazing cattle to improve the efficiency of cow-calf systems; (ii) improving robustness and climatic resilience in U.S. sheep populations through genomics; (iii) establishing strategies to incorporate crossbred data into genetic evaluation of sheep; and, (iv) assessing the population dynamics, and long-term direct and correlated selection response, in broiler chickens selected for high and low body weight.

TEACHING

A focus of my graduate teaching was to establish a national graduate-level distance-delivered program in animal quantitative genetics and genomics (https://www.gpidea.org/program/quantitative-genetics-and-genomics). My current undergraduate and graduate teaching is an advanced course in animal breeding and genetics. I also developed and supported an online simulation game (CyberSheep) that provided experiential learning in undergraduate and graduate instruction in animal genetics.

My teaching philosophy can be found at https://animalscience.unl.edu/ron-lewis-teaching-philosophy

Courses:

• Advanced Animal Breeding (ASCI 431/831)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Member, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Permanent International Committee, 2014 – 2022.
• Promotion and Tenure Committee Chair and Member, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska Lincoln, 2015 – 2018.
• Technical Advisor, National Sheep Improvement Program, 2016 – 2023.
• Graduate Committee Chair, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2017 – 2021.
• Co-Chairman and member, Genetic Stakeholders Committee, American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), 2017 – present.
• Member, Production, Education and Research Council, ASI, 2017 – 2021.
• Member, Liaison Committee, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska Lincoln, 2019 – 2022.
• Member, Annual Evaluation Working Group, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska Lincoln, 2021.
• Action Lead, Research, Education and Emerging Technology Committee, Sheep Genetics USA, 2021 – 2023.

PUBLICATIONS

Career total: 345

Referred Journal Publications (since 2019: 22; career total: 99)
In the following list of publications, an '*' indicates that the publication was a collaboration with a current or former undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral student.

• Araujo, A. C.*, P. L. S. Carneiro, H. R. Oliveira, R. M. Lewis, and L. F. Brito. 2023. SNP- and haplotype-based single-step genomic predictions for body weight, wool, and reproductive traits in North American Rambouillet sheep. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 140:216-234. doi:10.1111/jbg.12748
• Arisman, B. C.*, J. M. Burke, J. L. M. Morgan, and R. M. Lewis. 2023. Genotype by environment interaction and heteroscedasticity influence the expression of parasite resistance in Katahdin sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 101:1-10. doi:10.1093/jas/skad228
• Arisman, B. C.*, J. M. Burke, J. L. M. Morgan, and R. M. Lewis. 2023. Clustering climate and management practices to define environmental challenges affecting gastrointestinal parasitism in Katahdin sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 101:1-10. doi:10.1093/jas/skad002
• Harrison, S. J.*, P. B. Siegel, C. F. Honaker, and R. M. Lewis. 2023. Population dynamics of a long-term selection experiment in White Plymouth Rock chickens selected for low or high body weight. Poult. Sci. 102:102575. doi:10.1016/j.psj.2023.102575
• Artegoitia, V. M.*, J. W. Newman, A. P. Foote, S. D. Shackelford, D. A. King, T. L. Wheeler, R. M. Lewis, and H. C. Freetly. 2022. Non-invasive metabolomics biomarkers of production efficiency and beef carcass quality traits. Scientific Reports 12:231. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-04049-2
• Becker, G. M., J. M. Burke, R. M. Lewis, J. E. Miller, J. L. Morgan, B. D. Rosen, C. P. Van Tassell, D. R. Notter, and B. M. Murdoch. 2022. Variants within genes EDIL3 and ADGRB3 are associated with divergent fecal egg counts in Katahdin sheep at weaning. Frontiers in Genetics 13:817319. doi:10.3389/fgene.2022.817319
• Parham, J. T.*, A. E. Tanner, S. R. Blevins, M. L. Wahlberg, and R. M. Lewis. 2022. Cattle acclimate more substantially to repeated handling when confined individually in a pen than when assessed as a group. J. Anim. Sci. 100(3):1-8. doi:10.1093/jas/skac040
• Vargas Jurado, N.*, D. R. Notter, J. B. Taylor, D. J. Brown, M. R. Mousel, and R. M. Lewis. 2022. Model definition for genetic evaluation of purebred and crossbred lambs including heterosis. J. Anim. Sci. 100(6):1-14. doi:10.1093/jas/skac188
• Wilson, C. S.*, J. L. Petersen, H. D. Blackburn, and R. M. Lewis. 2022. Assessing population structure and genetic diversity in U.S. Suffolk sheep to define a framework for genomic selection. J. Hered. 113:431-443. doi:10.1093/jhered/esac026
• Parham, J. T.*, S. R. Blevins, A. E. Tanner, M. L. Wahlberg, W. S. Swecker, Jr., and R. M. Lewis. 2021. Subjective methods of quantifying temperament in heifers are indicative of physiological stress. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 234:105197. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105197
• Vargas Jurado, N.*, L. A. Kuehn, J. W. Keele, and R. M. Lewis. 2021. Accuracy of GEBV of sires based on pooled allele frequency of their progeny. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics 11:1-16. doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkab231
• Zimmermann, M. J.*, L. A. Kuehn, M. L. Spangler, R. M. Thallman, W. M. Snelling, and R. M. Lewis. 2021. Breed and heterotic effects for mature weight in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 99:1-7. doi:10.1093/jas/skab209
• Becker, G. M., K. M. Davenport, J. M. Burke, R. M. Lewis, J. E. Miller, J. L. Morgan, D. R. Notter, and B. M. Murdoch. 2020. Genome-wide association study to identify genetic loci associated with gastrointestinal nematode resistance in Katahdin sheep. Anim. Genet. 51:330-335. doi:10.1111/age.12895
• Davenport, K. M., C. Hiemke, S. D. McKay, J. W. Thorne, R. M. Lewis, T. Taylor, and B. M. Murdoch. 2020. Genetic structure and admixture in sheep from terminal breeds in the United States. Anim. Genet. 51:284-291. doi:10.1111/age.12905
• Lewis, R. M., and G. C. Emmans. 2020. The relationship between feed intake and liveweight in domestic animals. J. Anim. Sci. 98. doi:10.1093/jas/skaa087
• Vargas Jurado N.*, L. A. Kuehn, and R. M. Lewis. 2020. Lamb wool shedding is a good predictor of ewe wool shedding. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 137:365-373. doi:10.1111/jbg.12449
• Artegoitia, V. M.*, A. P. Foote, R. M. Lewis, and H. C. Freetly. 2019. Metabolomics profile and targeted lipidomics in multiple tissues associated with feed efficiency in beef steers. ACS Omega 4:3973-3982. doi:10.1021/acsomega.8b02494
• Parham, J. T.*, A. E. Tanner, K. Barkley*, L. Pullen*, M. L. Wahlberg, W. S. Swecker, Jr., and R. M. Lewis. 2019. Temperamental cattle acclimate more substantially to repeated handling. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 212:36-43. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2019.01.001
• Parham, J. T.*, A. E. Tanner, M. L. Wahlberg, T. Grandin, and R. M. Lewis. 2019. Subjective methods to quantify temperament in beef cattle are insensitive to the number and biases of observers. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 212:30-35. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2019.01.005
• Petersen, J. L., R. M. Lewis, R. Embertson, S. J. Valberg, and S. J. Holcombe. 2019. Preliminary heritability of complete rotation large colon volvulus in Thoroughbred broodmares. Vet. Rec. 185:269. doi:10.1136/vr.105323
• Vargas Jurado N.*, A. E. Tanner, S. Blevins, J. Rich*, D. Fiske, W. S. Swecker, Jr., H. M. McNair, and R. M. Lewis. 2019. Choices between red clover and fescue in the diet can be reliably estimated in heifers post-weaning using n-alkanes. Animal 13:1907-1916. doi:10.1017/S175173111900017X
• Zimmermann M. J.*, L. A. Kuehn, M. L. Spangler, R. M. Thallman, W. M. Snelling, and R. M. Lewis. 2019. Comparison of different functions to describe growth from weaning to maturity in crossbred beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 97:1523-1533. doi:10.1093/jas/skz045