Professor Ben Hayes
Professor

Ben Hayes

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 62173

Background

Professor Hayes has extensive research experience in genetic improvement of livestock, crop, pasture and aquaculture species, with a focus on integration of genomic information into breeding programs, including leading many large scale projects which have successfully implemented genomic technologies in livestock and cropping industries. Author of more than 300 journal papers, including in Nature Genetics, Nature Reviews Genetics, and Science, contributing to statistical methodology for genomic, microbiome and metagenomic profile predictions, quantitative genetics including knowledge of genetic mechanisms underlying complex traits, and development of bioinformatics pipelines for sequence analysis. Thomson Reuters highly cited researcher in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Availability

Professor Ben Hayes is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Central Queensland University
  • Certificate of Quantum Information, Computation and Communication, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research impacts

Genomic prediction, of which Ben Hayes was a co-inventor, and first described in the seminal publication [Meuwissen THE, Hayes BJ, Goddard ME (2001) Prediction of total genetic value using genome-wide dense marker maps. Genetics 157, 1819-1829] is now being used very widely in livestock and crops to predict future trait outcomes. The technology is also being used increasingly in human disease research.

In dairy cattle, the technology has been actively used by the industry for the past five years, and increases in genetic gain for key economic traits can be demonstrated. Nearly every dairy bull worldwide chosen for widespread use in the industry is now selected on the basis of genomic predictions. Dr Hayes has been an invited speaker at numerous high profile conferences, including the Biology of Genomes conference at Cold Spring Harbor May 2015, and also has a number of youtube videos explaining complex trait prediction for a general audience, one of which has been viewed more than 5000 times (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RovnCsda-zQ).

Ben Hayes led the program on animal improvement of the Dairy Futures CRC, which concluded June 2016. The animal improvement program in the Dairy Futures CRC is a successful research and utilisation program which has a very high level of industry input and collaboration. The value of the program was recognised recently when it was awarded a Cooperative Research Centres Association (CRCA) Award for Excellence in Innovation. The Dairy Futures CRC under the leadership of Dr. Hayes successfully developed and implemented a genomic breeding value for feed efficiency, which has been widely adopted by the industry.

Dr. Hayes established the 1000 bull genomes project, a consortium of over 30 institutes across the globe, which has assembled whole genome sequences of 1682 cattle of 55 breeds. The consortium has published a widely cited paper in Nature Genetics (Daetwyler et al. 2014), and has already led to more than 50 companion papers.

Search Professor Ben Hayes’s works on UQ eSpace

399 works between 2000 and 2024
All (399) Journal Article (337) Book Chapter (9) Conference Publication (51) Other Outputs (2)

241 - 260 of 399 works

2014

Journal Article

Improving breeding efficiency in potato using molecular and quantitative genetics

Slater, Anthony T., Cogan, Noel O. I., Hayes, Benjamin J., Schultz, Lee, Dale, M. Finlay B., Bryan, Glenn J. and Forster, John W. (2014). Improving breeding efficiency in potato using molecular and quantitative genetics. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 127 (11), 2279-2292. doi: 10.1007/s00122-014-2386-8

Improving breeding efficiency in potato using molecular and quantitative genetics

2014

Conference Publication

Resources and strategies for implementation of genomic selection in breeding of forage species

Forster, J. W., Hand, M. L., Cogan, N. O. I., Hayes, B. J., Spangenberg, German C. and Smith, K. F. (2014). Resources and strategies for implementation of genomic selection in breeding of forage species. Clayton, VIC, Australia: C S I R O Publishing. doi: 10.1071/CP13361

Resources and strategies for implementation of genomic selection in breeding of forage species

2014

Conference Publication

Genomic selection in crops, trees and forages: a review

Lin, Z., Hayes, B. J. and Daetwyler, H. D. (2014). Genomic selection in crops, trees and forages: a review. Clayton, VIC, Australia: C S I R O Publishing. doi: 10.1071/CP13363

Genomic selection in crops, trees and forages: a review

2014

Journal Article

Linkage disequilibrium over short physical distances measured in sheep using a high-density SNP chip

Kijas, James W., Porto-Neto, Laercio, Dominik, Sonja, Reverter, Antonio, Bunch, Rowan, McCulloch, Russell, Hayes, Ben J., Brauning, Rudiger and McEwan, John (2014). Linkage disequilibrium over short physical distances measured in sheep using a high-density SNP chip. Animal Genetics, 45 (5), 754-757. doi: 10.1111/age.12197

Linkage disequilibrium over short physical distances measured in sheep using a high-density SNP chip

2014

Journal Article

Selection signatures in worldwide sheep populations

Fariello, Maria-Ines, Servin, Bertrand, Tosser-Klopp, Gwenola, Rupp, Rachel, Moreno, Carole, San Cristobal, Magali, Boitard, Simon, International Sheep Genomics Consortium and Hayes, Ben (2014). Selection signatures in worldwide sheep populations. PLoS One, 9 (8) e103813, e103813. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103813

Selection signatures in worldwide sheep populations

2014

Journal Article

Genomic prediction for rust resistance in diverse wheat landraces

Daetwyler, Hans D., Bansal, Urmil K., Bariana, Harbans S., Hayden, Matthew J. and Hayes, Ben J. (2014). Genomic prediction for rust resistance in diverse wheat landraces. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 127 (8), 1795-1803. doi: 10.1007/s00122-014-2341-8

Genomic prediction for rust resistance in diverse wheat landraces

2014

Journal Article

Whole-genome sequencing of 234 bulls facilitates mapping of monogenic and complex traits in cattle

Daetwyler, Hans D., Capitan, Aurelien, Pausch, Hubert, Stothard, Paul, Van Binsbergen, Rianne, Brondum, Rasmus F., Liao, Xiaoping, Djari, Anis, Rodriguez, Sabrina C., Grohs, Cecile, Esquerre, Diane, Bouchez, Olivier, Rossignol, Marie-Noelle, Klopp, Christophe, Rocha, Dominique, Fritz, Sebastien, Eggen, Andre, Bowman, Phil J., Coote, David, Chamberlain, Amanda J., Anderson, Charlotte, VanTassell, Curt P., Hulsegge, Ina, Goddard, Mike E., Guldbrandtsen, Bernt, Lund, Mogens S., Veerkamp, Roel F., Boichard, Didier A., Fries, Ruedi and Hayes, Ben J. (2014). Whole-genome sequencing of 234 bulls facilitates mapping of monogenic and complex traits in cattle. Nature Genetics, 46 (8), 858-865. doi: 10.1038/ng.3034

Whole-genome sequencing of 234 bulls facilitates mapping of monogenic and complex traits in cattle

2014

Journal Article

Whole-tract dry matter and nitrogen digestibility of lactating dairy cows selected for phenotypic divergence in residual feed intake

Thornhill, J. B., Marett, L. C., Auldist, M. J., Greenwood, J. S., Pryce, J. E., Hayes, B. J. and Wales, W. J. (2014). Whole-tract dry matter and nitrogen digestibility of lactating dairy cows selected for phenotypic divergence in residual feed intake. Animal Production Science, 54 (9), 1460-1464. doi: 10.1071/AN14200

Whole-tract dry matter and nitrogen digestibility of lactating dairy cows selected for phenotypic divergence in residual feed intake

2014

Journal Article

Accuracy of imputation to whole-genome sequence data in Holstein Friesian cattle

van Binsbergen, Rianne, Bink, Marco C. A. M., Calus, Mario P. L., van Eeuwijk, Fred A., Hayes, Ben J., Hulsegge, Ina and Veerkamp, Roel F. (2014). Accuracy of imputation to whole-genome sequence data in Holstein Friesian cattle. Genetics Selection Evolution, 46 (1) 41, 1-13. doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-46-41

Accuracy of imputation to whole-genome sequence data in Holstein Friesian cattle

2014

Journal Article

Regulatory and coding genome regions are enriched for trait associated variants in dairy and beef cattle

Koufariotis, Lambros, Chen, Yi-Ping Phoebe, Bolormaa, Sunduimijid and Hayes, Ben J. (2014). Regulatory and coding genome regions are enriched for trait associated variants in dairy and beef cattle. BMC Genomics, 15 (1) 436. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-436

Regulatory and coding genome regions are enriched for trait associated variants in dairy and beef cattle

2014

Journal Article

Incorporating heifer feed efficiency in the Australian selection index using genomic selection

Gonzalez-Recio, O., Pryce, J. E., Haile-Mariam, M. and Hayes, B. J. (2014). Incorporating heifer feed efficiency in the Australian selection index using genomic selection. Journal of Dairy Science, 97 (6), 3883-3893. doi: 10.3168/jds.2013-7515

Incorporating heifer feed efficiency in the Australian selection index using genomic selection

2014

Journal Article

Genetic variants in mammary development, prolactin signalling and involution pathways explain considerable variation in bovine milk production and milk composition

Raven, Lesley-Ann, Cocks, Benjamin G., Goddard, Michael E., Pryce, Jennie E. and Hayes, Ben J. (2014). Genetic variants in mammary development, prolactin signalling and involution pathways explain considerable variation in bovine milk production and milk composition. Genetics Selection Evolution, 46 (1) 29. doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-46-29

Genetic variants in mammary development, prolactin signalling and involution pathways explain considerable variation in bovine milk production and milk composition

2014

Journal Article

Improving the analysis of low heritability complex traits for enhanced genetic gain in potato

Slater, Anthony T., Wilson, Graeme M., Cogan, Noel O. I., Forster, John W. and Hayes, Benjamin J. (2014). Improving the analysis of low heritability complex traits for enhanced genetic gain in potato. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 127 (4), 809-820. doi: 10.1007/s00122-013-2258-7

Improving the analysis of low heritability complex traits for enhanced genetic gain in potato

2014

Journal Article

Selection for complex traits leaves little or no classic signatures of selection

Kemper, Kathryn E., Saxton, Sarah J., Bolormaa, Sunduimijid, Hayes, Benjamin J. and Goddard, Michael E. (2014). Selection for complex traits leaves little or no classic signatures of selection. BMC Genomics, 15 (1) 246. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-246

Selection for complex traits leaves little or no classic signatures of selection

2014

Journal Article

Holstein-Friesian calves selected for divergence in residual feed intake during growth exhibited significant but reduced residual feed intake divergence in their first lactation

Macdonald, K. A., Pryce, J. E., Spelman, R. J., Davis, S. R., Wales, W. J., Waghorn, G. C., Williams, Y. J., II, Marett, L. C. and Hayes, B. J. (2014). Holstein-Friesian calves selected for divergence in residual feed intake during growth exhibited significant but reduced residual feed intake divergence in their first lactation. Journal of Dairy Science, 97 (3), 1427-1435. doi: 10.3168/jds.2013-7227

Holstein-Friesian calves selected for divergence in residual feed intake during growth exhibited significant but reduced residual feed intake divergence in their first lactation

2014

Journal Article

Imputation of genotypes from low density (50,000 markers) to high density (700,000 markers) of cows from research herds in Europe, North America, and Australasia using 2 reference populations

Pryce, J. E., Johnston, J., Hayes, B. J., Sahana, G., Weigel, K. A., McParland, S., Spurlock, D., Krattenmacher, N., Spelman, R. J., Wall, E. and Calus, M. P. L. (2014). Imputation of genotypes from low density (50,000 markers) to high density (700,000 markers) of cows from research herds in Europe, North America, and Australasia using 2 reference populations. Journal of Dairy Science, 97 (3), 1799-1811. doi: 10.3168/jds.2013-7368

Imputation of genotypes from low density (50,000 markers) to high density (700,000 markers) of cows from research herds in Europe, North America, and Australasia using 2 reference populations

2014

Journal Article

A multi-trait, meta-analysis for detecting pleiotropic polymorphisms for stature, fatness and reproduction in beef cattle

Bolormaa, Sunduimijid, Pryce, Jennie E., Reverter, Antonio, Zhang, Yuandan, Barendse, William, Kemper, Kathryn, Tier, Bruce, Savin, Keith, Hayes, Ben J. and Goddard, Michael E. (2014). A multi-trait, meta-analysis for detecting pleiotropic polymorphisms for stature, fatness and reproduction in beef cattle. PLoS Genetics, 10 (3) e1004198, e1004198. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004198

A multi-trait, meta-analysis for detecting pleiotropic polymorphisms for stature, fatness and reproduction in beef cattle

2014

Journal Article

An independent validation association study of carcass quality, shear force, intramuscular fat percentage and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content with gene markers in Australian lamb

Knight, Matthew I., Daetwyler, Hans D., Hayes, Ben J., Hayden, Matthew J., Ball, Alex J., Pethick, David W. and McDonagh, Matthew B. (2014). An independent validation association study of carcass quality, shear force, intramuscular fat percentage and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content with gene markers in Australian lamb. Meat Science, 96 (2), 1025-1033. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.07.008

An independent validation association study of carcass quality, shear force, intramuscular fat percentage and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content with gene markers in Australian lamb

2014

Journal Article

Genomic selection for recovery of original genetic background from hybrids of endangered and common breeds

Amador, Carmen, Hayes, Ben J. and Daetwyler, Hans D. (2014). Genomic selection for recovery of original genetic background from hybrids of endangered and common breeds. Evolutionary Applications, 7 (2), 227-237. doi: 10.1111/eva.12113

Genomic selection for recovery of original genetic background from hybrids of endangered and common breeds

2014

Journal Article

Multibreed genome wide association can improve precision of mapping causative variants underlying milk production in dairy cattle

Raven, Lesley-Ann, Cocks, Benjamin G. and Hayes, Ben J. (2014). Multibreed genome wide association can improve precision of mapping causative variants underlying milk production in dairy cattle. BMC Genomics, 15 (1) 62. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-62

Multibreed genome wide association can improve precision of mapping causative variants underlying milk production in dairy cattle

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2029
    ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Program 2 - Resistance Sources: Using 'FastStack' to develop effective durable net blotch resistance gene stacks
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Achieving improved genetic gain for yield in chickpea, faba bean and lentil using genetic diversity (GRDC grant administered by Murdoch University)
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Fast tracking deployment of chickpea heat tolerance
    GRDC - PROC-9176886 - Fast tracking deployment of chickpea heat tolerance to develop chickpea varieties with improved high temperature tolerance
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    RustHapSelect: Fast-tracking rust resistance haplotypes into high-yielding germplasm (GRDC grant administered by CSIRO)
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Northern Genomics commercialisation scoping study
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Reducing methane emissions and improving profitability in Northern Australian beef
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Scaling Genomic Selection Across the Indian Smallholder Dairy Sector (BMGF grant administered by BAIF Development Research Foundation)
    BAIF Development Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Facilitating Innovations for Resilient Livestock Farming Systems (Re-Livestock) (Horizon Europe grant administered by the Spanish National Research Council)
    Spanish National Research Council (Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Balancing polled and profit: demonstration of breeding strategies to replace dehorning in a large integrated beef and cattle operation
    A. A. COMPANY PTY. LTD.
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    On-farm genomics: genomic solutions for Northern beef cattle management and breeding
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Digging deeper to improve yield stability
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    LESTR Low Emission Saliva Test for Ruminants
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    ARC Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture Through Genetic Solutions - externally administered by James Cook University (JCU)
    James Cook University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    NB2: Assessing practical interventions to reduce calf wastage and herd mortality in northern systems
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Genomic prediction of ratoon yield robustness
    Sugar Research Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Northern Beef Information Nucleus (Spyglass) Phase 4 Extension
    Australian Brahman Breeders' Association Limited
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Development of genomic multi-breed eating quality trait estimates using shared global data (Meat & Livestock Australia project administered by University of New England)
    University of New England
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    DNA as the ultimate identifier in blockchain traceability systems
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Screening of diverse barley germplasm for rapid discovery and utilisation of novel disease resistance in barley using R-HapSelect : A haplotype-based toolkit
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    FY20 Postgraduate Scholarships - Harrison Lamb
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Bull fertility update: historical data, new cohort and advanced genomics (Meat & Livestock Australia grant administered by CSIRO)
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    India Dairy Genetic Gain: Array designs for Indian Cattle and Buffalo
    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    National Tree Genomics Program - Genomics Toolbox
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Predicting age of livestock from DNA samples
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    National Tree Genomics Program - Phenotype Prediction
    Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    FastStack - evolutionary computing to stack desirable alleles in wheat
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Female Reproduction Phenobank and Validation Herds
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Novel genomic technologies to improve fertility in Northern Beef Cattle
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    Improving fertility in northern cattle through host and pathogen molecular diagnosis
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    Implementing and validating genomic selection in SRA breeding programs to accelerate improvements in yield, commercial cane sugar, and other key traits
    Sugar Research Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Genetics R&D: Characterisation of the Brahman Genome
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    Improving bovine respiratory disease control through the characterisation of pathogen genomics and host interactions
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Expression of genes and proteins related to meat quality in Bos indicus cattle
    UQ-FAPESP Strategic Research Fund SPRINT
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    Accelerating genetic gain for productivity and profitability in Northern beef cattle with genomic technologies
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2024
    Cattle tick and Buffalo fly host genetics, susceptibility to buffalo fly lesions and biomarkers for resistance
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Ben Hayes is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Professor Ben Hayes's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au