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)

341 - 360 of 399 works

2010

Journal Article

Weight and time of onset of female-superior sexual dimorphism in pond reared Penaeus monodon

Gopal, Chavali, Gopikrishna, Gopalapillay, Krishna, Gopal, Jahageerdar, Shrinivas S., Rye, Morten, Hayes, Ben J., Paulpandi, Sivagnanam, Kiran, Remanibhaskaran P., Pillai, Subramaniapillai M., Ravichandran, Pitchaiyappan, Ponniah, Alphis G. and Kumar, Dilip (2010). Weight and time of onset of female-superior sexual dimorphism in pond reared Penaeus monodon. Aquaculture, 300 (1-4), 237-239. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2010.01.007

Weight and time of onset of female-superior sexual dimorphism in pond reared Penaeus monodon

2010

Conference Publication

Genome-wide association and genomic selection in animal breeding

Hayes, Ben and Goddard, Mike (2010). Genome-wide association and genomic selection in animal breeding. International Conference on Exploiting Genome-Wide Association in Oilseed Brassicas - A Model for Genetic Improvement of Major OECD Crops for Sustainable Future Farming, Perth Australia, Nov 09-12, 2009. doi: 10.1139/G10-076

Genome-wide association and genomic selection in animal breeding

2009

Journal Article

A novel predictor of multilocus haplotype homozygosity: comparison with existing predictors

MacLeod, I. M., Meuwissen, T. H. E., Hayes, B. J. and Goddard, M. E. (2009). A novel predictor of multilocus haplotype homozygosity: comparison with existing predictors. Genetics Research, 91 (6), 413-426. doi: 10.1017/S0016672309990358

A novel predictor of multilocus haplotype homozygosity: comparison with existing predictors

2009

Journal Article

LASSO with cross-validation for genomic selection

Usai, M. Graziano, Goddard, Mike E. and Hayes, Ben J. (2009). LASSO with cross-validation for genomic selection. Genetics Research, 91 (6), 427-436. doi: 10.1017/S0016672309990334

LASSO with cross-validation for genomic selection

2009

Journal Article

Sampling strategies for whole genome association studies in aquaculture and outcrossing plant species

Hayes, B. J., MacLeod, I. M. and Baranski, M. (2009). Sampling strategies for whole genome association studies in aquaculture and outcrossing plant species. Genetics Research, 91 (6), 367-371. doi: 10.1017/S0016672309990310

Sampling strategies for whole genome association studies in aquaculture and outcrossing plant species

2009

Journal Article

Reliability of genomic predictions across multiple populations

de Roos, A. P. W., Hayes, B. J. and Goddard, M. E. (2009). Reliability of genomic predictions across multiple populations. Genetics, 183 (4), 1545-1553. doi: 10.1534/genetics.109.104935

Reliability of genomic predictions across multiple populations

2009

Journal Article

Using LASSO to estimate marker effects for Genomic Selection

Usai, Mario Graziano, Goddard, Mike E. and Hayes, Ben J. (2009). Using LASSO to estimate marker effects for Genomic Selection. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 8 (SUPPL. 2), 168-170.

Using LASSO to estimate marker effects for Genomic Selection

2009

Journal Article

Accuracy of genomic breeding values in multi-breed dairy cattle populations

Hayes, Ben J., Bowman, Phillip J., Chamberlain, Amanda C., Verbyla, Klara and Goddard, Mike E. (2009). Accuracy of genomic breeding values in multi-breed dairy cattle populations. Genetics Selection Evolution, 41 (1) 51, 321-329. doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-41-51

Accuracy of genomic breeding values in multi-breed dairy cattle populations

2009

Journal Article

Accuracy of genomic selection using stochastic search variable selection in Australian Holstein Friesian dairy cattle

Verbyla, Klara L., Hayes, Ben J., Bowman, Philip. J. and Goddard, Michael E. (2009). Accuracy of genomic selection using stochastic search variable selection in Australian Holstein Friesian dairy cattle. Genetics Research, 91 (5), 307-311. doi: 10.1017/S0016672309990243

Accuracy of genomic selection using stochastic search variable selection in Australian Holstein Friesian dairy cattle

2009

Journal Article

Characterization of a QTL region affecting clinical mastitis and protein yield on BTA6

Nilsen, H., Olsen, H. G., Hayes, B., Nome, T., Sehested, E., Svendsen, M., Meuwissen, T. H. E. and Lien, S. (2009). Characterization of a QTL region affecting clinical mastitis and protein yield on BTA6. Animal Genetics, 40 (5), 701-712. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2009.01908.x

Characterization of a QTL region affecting clinical mastitis and protein yield on BTA6

2009

Journal Article

A validated genome wide association study to breed cattle adapted to an environment altered by climate change

Hayes, Ben J., Bowman, Phil J., Chamberlain, Amanda J., Savin, Keith, van Tassell, Curt P., Sonstegard, Tad S. and Goddard, Mike E. (2009). A validated genome wide association study to breed cattle adapted to an environment altered by climate change. PLoS ONE, 4 (8) e6676, e6676. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006676

A validated genome wide association study to breed cattle adapted to an environment altered by climate change

2009

Journal Article

Gene by environment interactions for production traits in Australian dairy cattle

Lillehammer, M., Hayes, B. J., Meuwissen, T. H. E. and Goddard, M. E. (2009). Gene by environment interactions for production traits in Australian dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 92 (8), 4008-4017. doi: 10.3168/jds.2008-1484

Gene by environment interactions for production traits in Australian dairy cattle

2009

Journal Article

Mapping genes for complex traits in domestic animals and their use in breeding programmes

Goddard, Michael E. and Hayes, Ben J. (2009). Mapping genes for complex traits in domestic animals and their use in breeding programmes. Nature Reviews Genetics, 10 (6), 381-391. doi: 10.1038/nrg2575

Mapping genes for complex traits in domestic animals and their use in breeding programmes

2009

Journal Article

An examination of positive selection and changing effective population size in Angus and Holstein cattle populations (Bos taurus) using a high density SNP genotyping platform and the contribution of ancient polymorphism to genomic diversity in Domestic ca

MacEachern, Sean, Hayes, Ben, McEwan, John and Goddard, Mike (2009). An examination of positive selection and changing effective population size in Angus and Holstein cattle populations (Bos taurus) using a high density SNP genotyping platform and the contribution of ancient polymorphism to genomic diversity in Domestic ca. BMC Genomics, 10 181. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-181

An examination of positive selection and changing effective population size in Angus and Holstein cattle populations (Bos taurus) using a high density SNP genotyping platform and the contribution of ancient polymorphism to genomic diversity in Domestic ca

2009

Journal Article

Genome-wide survey of SNP variation uncovers the genetic structure of cattle breeds

Gibbs, Richard A., Taylor, Jeremy F., Van Tassell, Curtis P., Barendse, William, Eversoie, Kallye A., Gill, Clare A., Green, Ronnie D., Hamernik, Debora L., Kappes, Steven M., Lien, Sigbjorn, Matukumalli, Lakshmi K., McEwan, John C., Nazareth, Lynne V., Schnabel, Robert D., Taylor, Jeremy F., Weinstock, George M., Wheeler, David A., Ajmone-Marsan, Paolo, Barendse, William, Boettcher, Paul J., Caetano, Alexandre R., Garcia, Jose Fernando, Hanotte, Olivier, Mariani, Paola, Skow, Loren C., Williams, John L., Caetano, Alexandre R., Diallo, Boubacar, Green, Ronnie D. ... Dodds, Ken G. (2009). Genome-wide survey of SNP variation uncovers the genetic structure of cattle breeds. Science, 324 (5926), 528-532. doi: 10.1126/science.1167936

Genome-wide survey of SNP variation uncovers the genetic structure of cattle breeds

2009

Journal Article

Increased accuracy of artificial selection by using the realized relationship matrix. (vol 91, pg 47, 2009)

Hayes, B. J., Visscher, P. M. and Goddard, M. E. (2009). Increased accuracy of artificial selection by using the realized relationship matrix. (vol 91, pg 47, 2009). Genetics Research, 91 (2), 143-143. doi: 10.1017/S0016672309000111

Increased accuracy of artificial selection by using the realized relationship matrix. (vol 91, pg 47, 2009)

2009

Journal Article

A genome map of divergent artificial selection between Bos taurus dairy cattle and Bos taurus beef cattle

Hayes, B. J., Chamberlain, A. J., Maceachern, S., Savin, K., McPartlan, H., MacLeod, I., Sethuraman, L. and Goddard, M. E. (2009). A genome map of divergent artificial selection between Bos taurus dairy cattle and Bos taurus beef cattle. Animal Genetics, 40 (2), 176-184. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2008.01815.x

A genome map of divergent artificial selection between Bos taurus dairy cattle and Bos taurus beef cattle

2009

Journal Article

Casein haplotypes and their association with milk production traits in Norwegian Red cattle

Nilsen, Heidi, Olsen, Hanne Gro, Hayes, Ben, Sehested, Erling, Svendsen, Morten, Nome, Torfinn, Meuwissen, Theo and Lien, Sigbjorn (2009). Casein haplotypes and their association with milk production traits in Norwegian Red cattle. Genetics Selection Evolution, 41 (1) 24. doi: 10.1186/1297-9686-41-24

Casein haplotypes and their association with milk production traits in Norwegian Red cattle

2009

Journal Article

Increased accuracy of artificial selection by using the realized relationship matrix

Hayes, B. J., Visscher, P. M. and Goddard, M. E. (2009). Increased accuracy of artificial selection by using the realized relationship matrix. Genetics Research, 91 (1), 47-60. doi: 10.1017/S0016672308009981

Increased accuracy of artificial selection by using the realized relationship matrix

2009

Journal Article

Invited review: genomic selection in dairy cattle: progress and challenges

Hayes, B. J., Bowman, P. J., Chamberlain, A. J. and Goddard, M. E. (2009). Invited review: genomic selection in dairy cattle: progress and challenges. Journal of Dairy Science, 92 (2), 433-443. doi: 10.3168/jds.2008-1646

Invited review: genomic selection in dairy cattle: progress and challenges

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

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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