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 (336) Book Chapter (9) Conference Publication (51) Other Outputs (3)

281 - 300 of 399 works

2013

Journal Article

Latent biochemical relationships in the blood-milk metabolic axis of dairy cows revealed by statistical integration of 1H NMR spectroscopic data

Maher, Anthony D., Hayes, Benjamin, Cocks, Benjamin, Marett, Leah, Wales, William J. and Rochfort, Simone J. (2013). Latent biochemical relationships in the blood-milk metabolic axis of dairy cows revealed by statistical integration of 1H NMR spectroscopic data. Journal of Proteome Research, 12 (3), 1428-1435. doi: 10.1021/pr301056q

Latent biochemical relationships in the blood-milk metabolic axis of dairy cows revealed by statistical integration of 1H NMR spectroscopic data

2013

Journal Article

Comparison of heritabilities of dairy traits in Australian Holstein-Friesian cattle from genomic and pedigree data and implications for genomic evaluations

Haile-Mariam, M., Nieuwhof, G. J., Beard, K. T., Konstatinov, K. V. and Hayes, B. J. (2013). Comparison of heritabilities of dairy traits in Australian Holstein-Friesian cattle from genomic and pedigree data and implications for genomic evaluations. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 130 (1), 20-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2013.01001.x

Comparison of heritabilities of dairy traits in Australian Holstein-Friesian cattle from genomic and pedigree data and implications for genomic evaluations

2013

Journal Article

Accelerating improvement of livestock with genomic selection

Meuwissen, Theo, Hayes, Ben and Goddard, Mike (2013). Accelerating improvement of livestock with genomic selection. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 1 (1), 221-237. doi: 10.1146/annurev-animal-031412-103705

Accelerating improvement of livestock with genomic selection

2013

Journal Article

Preface

Gondro, Cedric, Van Der Werf, Julius and Hayes, Ben (2013). Preface. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1019. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-447_0

Preface

2013

Journal Article

Detection of quantitative trait loci in Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle using genome-wide association studies

Bolormaa, Sunduimijid, Pryce, Jennie E., Kemper, Kathryn E., Hayes, Ben J., Zhang, Yuandan, Tier, Bruce, Barendse, William, Reverter, Antonio and Goddard, Mike E. (2013). Detection of quantitative trait loci in Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle using genome-wide association studies. Genetics Selection Evolution, 45 (1) 43, 43.1-43.12. doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-45-43

Detection of quantitative trait loci in Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle using genome-wide association studies

2013

Conference Publication

Genomic regions associated with differences in fat percentage in milk between Holstein and Jersery cattle

Kemper, K. E., Hayes, B. J. and Goddard, M. E. (2013). Genomic regions associated with differences in fat percentage in milk between Holstein and Jersery cattle. Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Napier, New Zealand, 20-23 October 2013. Red Hook, NY, United States: Curran Associates.

Genomic regions associated with differences in fat percentage in milk between Holstein and Jersery cattle

2013

Conference Publication

The symbiotic rumen microbiome and cattle performance: a brief review

Bath, C., Morrison, M., Ross, E. M., Hayes, B. J. and Cocks, B. G. (2013). The symbiotic rumen microbiome and cattle performance: a brief review. Clayton, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. doi: 10.1071/AN12369

The symbiotic rumen microbiome and cattle performance: a brief review

2013

Journal Article

Accuracy of prediction of genomic breeding values for residual feed intake and carcass and meat quality traits in Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and composite beef cattle

Bolormaa, S., Pryce, J. E., Kemper, K., Savin, K., Hayes, B. J., Barendse, W., Zhang, Y., Reich, C. M., Mason, B. A., Bunch, R. J., Harrison, B. E., Reverter, A., Herd, R. M., Tier, B., Graser, H. -U. and Goddard, M. E. (2013). Accuracy of prediction of genomic breeding values for residual feed intake and carcass and meat quality traits in Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and composite beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science, 91 (7), 3088-3104. doi: 10.2527/jas.2012-5827

Accuracy of prediction of genomic breeding values for residual feed intake and carcass and meat quality traits in Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and composite beef cattle

2012

Journal Article

Accuracy of pedigree and genomic predictions of carcass and novel meat quality traits in multi-breed sheep data assessed by cross-validation

Daetwyler, Hans D., Swan, Andrew A., van der Werf, Julius H. J. and Hayes, Ben J. (2012). Accuracy of pedigree and genomic predictions of carcass and novel meat quality traits in multi-breed sheep data assessed by cross-validation. Genetics Selection Evolution, 44 (1) 33. doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-44-33

Accuracy of pedigree and genomic predictions of carcass and novel meat quality traits in multi-breed sheep data assessed by cross-validation

2012

Journal Article

Genome position specific priors for genomic prediction

Brondum, Rasmus Froberg, Su, Guosheng, Lund, Mogens Sando, Bowman, Philip J., Goddard, Michael E. and Hayes, Benjamin J. (2012). Genome position specific priors for genomic prediction. BMC Genomics, 13 (1) 543. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-543

Genome position specific priors for genomic prediction

2012

Journal Article

Strategies and utility of imputed SNP genotypes for genomic analysis in dairy cattle

Khatkar, Mehar S., Moser, Gerhard, Hayes, Ben J. and Raadsma, Herman W. (2012). Strategies and utility of imputed SNP genotypes for genomic analysis in dairy cattle. BMC Genomics, 13 (1) 538, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-538

Strategies and utility of imputed SNP genotypes for genomic analysis in dairy cattle

2012

Journal Article

Improved accuracy of genomic prediction for dry matter intake of dairy cattle from combined European and Australian data sets

de Haas, Y., Calus, M. P. L., Veerkamp, R. F., Wall, E., Coffey, M. P., Daetwyler, H. D., Hayes, B. J. and Pryce, J. E. (2012). Improved accuracy of genomic prediction for dry matter intake of dairy cattle from combined European and Australian data sets. Journal of Dairy Science, 95 (10), 6103-6112. doi: 10.3168/jds.2011-5280

Improved accuracy of genomic prediction for dry matter intake of dairy cattle from combined European and Australian data sets

2012

Journal Article

Long-term selection strategies for complex traits using high-density genetic markers

Kemper, K. E., Bowman, R. J., Pryce, J. E., Hayes, B. J. and Goddard, M. E. (2012). Long-term selection strategies for complex traits using high-density genetic markers. Journal of Dairy Science, 95 (8), 4646-4656. doi: 10.3168/jds.2011-5289

Long-term selection strategies for complex traits using high-density genetic markers

2012

Journal Article

A single nucleotide polymorphism on chromosome 10 is highly predictive for the polled phenotype in Australian Merino sheep

Dominik, S., Henshall, J. M. and Hayes, B. J. (2012). A single nucleotide polymorphism on chromosome 10 is highly predictive for the polled phenotype in Australian Merino sheep. Animal Genetics, 43 (4), 468-470. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2011.02271.x

A single nucleotide polymorphism on chromosome 10 is highly predictive for the polled phenotype in Australian Merino sheep

2012

Journal Article

High throughput whole rumen metagenome profiling using untargeted massively parallel sequencing

Ross, Elizabeth M., Moate, Peter J., Bath, Carolyn R., Davidson, Sophie E., Sawbridge, Tim I., Guthridge, Kathryn M., Cocks, Ben G. and Hayes, Ben J. (2012). High throughput whole rumen metagenome profiling using untargeted massively parallel sequencing. BMC Genetics, 13 53. doi: 10.1186/1471-2156-13-53

High throughput whole rumen metagenome profiling using untargeted massively parallel sequencing

2012

Journal Article

Improving accuracy of genomic predictions within and between dairy cattle breeds with imputed high-density single nucleotide polymorphism panels

Erbe, M., Hayes, B. J., Matukumalli, L. K., Goswami, S., Bowman, P. J., Reich, C. M., Mason, B. A. and Goddard, M. E. (2012). Improving accuracy of genomic predictions within and between dairy cattle breeds with imputed high-density single nucleotide polymorphism panels. Journal of Dairy Science, 95 (7), 4114-4129. doi: 10.3168/jds.2011-5019

Improving accuracy of genomic predictions within and between dairy cattle breeds with imputed high-density single nucleotide polymorphism panels

2012

Journal Article

Whole-genome resequencing of two elite sires for the detection of haplotypes under selection in dairy cattle

Larkin, Denis M., Daetwyler, Hans D., Hernandez, Alvaro G., Wright, Chris L., Hetrick, Lorie A., Boucek, Lisa, Bachman, Sharon L., Band, Mark R., Akraiko, Tatsiana V., Cohen-Zinder, Miri, Thimmapuram, Jyothi, Macleod, Iona M., Harkins, Timothy T., McCague, Jennifer E., Goddard, Michael E., Hayes, Ben J. and Lewin, Harris A. (2012). Whole-genome resequencing of two elite sires for the detection of haplotypes under selection in dairy cattle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109 (20), 7693-7698. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1114546109

Whole-genome resequencing of two elite sires for the detection of haplotypes under selection in dairy cattle

2012

Journal Article

Discovery and trait association of single nucleotide polymorphisms from gene regions of influence on meat tenderness and long-chain omega-3 fatty acid content in Australian lamb

Knight, M. I., Daetwyler, H. D., Hayes, B. J., Hayden, M. J., Ball, A. J., Pethick, D. W. and McDonagh, M. B. (2012). Discovery and trait association of single nucleotide polymorphisms from gene regions of influence on meat tenderness and long-chain omega-3 fatty acid content in Australian lamb. Animal Production Science, 52 (7), 591-600. doi: 10.1071/AN11229

Discovery and trait association of single nucleotide polymorphisms from gene regions of influence on meat tenderness and long-chain omega-3 fatty acid content in Australian lamb

2012

Journal Article

Accuracy of genomic predictions of residual feed intake and 250-day body weight in growing heifers using 625,000 single nucleotide polymorphism markers

Pryce, J. E., Arias, J., Bowman, P. J., Davis, S. R., Macdonald, K. A., Waghorn, G. C., Wales, W. J., Williams, Y. J., Spelman, R. J. and Hayes, B. J. (2012). Accuracy of genomic predictions of residual feed intake and 250-day body weight in growing heifers using 625,000 single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Journal of Dairy Science, 95 (4), 2108-2119. doi: 10.3168/jds.2011-4628

Accuracy of genomic predictions of residual feed intake and 250-day body weight in growing heifers using 625,000 single nucleotide polymorphism markers

2012

Journal Article

Design of a bovine low-density snp array optimized for imputation

Boichard, Didier, Chung, Hoyoung, Dassonneville, Romain, David, Xavier, Eggen, Andre, Fritz, Sebastien, Gietzen, Kimberly J., Hayes, Ben J., Lawley, Cynthia T., Sonstegard, Tad S., Van Tassell, Curtis P., VanRaden, Paul M., Viaud-Martinez, Karine A. and Wiggans, George R. (2012). Design of a bovine low-density snp array optimized for imputation. PLoS One, 7 (3) e34130, e34130. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034130

Design of a bovine low-density snp array optimized for imputation

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 - 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 - 2025
    Northern Genomics commercialisation scoping study
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    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

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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