Overview
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.
Works
Search Professor Ben Hayes’s works on UQ eSpace
2007
Conference Publication
Design of a whole genome scan experiment for a multi-breed beef cattle population with a complex pedigree
Kelly, M.J., Hayes, B.J. and Miller, S.P. (2007). Design of a whole genome scan experiment for a multi-breed beef cattle population with a complex pedigree. 17th Conference: Genetic Improvement - Making it Happen, Armidale, N.S.W., 23-26 September 2007. Armidale NSW: Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding Genetics.
2007
Journal Article
Recent human effective population size estimated from linkage disequilibrium
Tenesa, Albert, Navarro, Pau, Hayes, Ben J., Duffy, David L., Clarke, Geraldine M., Goddard, Mike E. and Visscher, Peter M. (2007). Recent human effective population size estimated from linkage disequilibrium. Genome Research, 17 (4), 520-526. doi: 10.1101/gr.6023607
2006
Journal Article
Genomic organization and transcript profiling of the bovine toll-like receptor gene cluster TLR6-TLR1-TLR10
Opsal, Monica Aa., Vage, Dag Inge, Hayes, Ben, Berget, Ingunn and Lien, Sigbjorn (2006). Genomic organization and transcript profiling of the bovine toll-like receptor gene cluster TLR6-TLR1-TLR10. Gene, 384 (1-2), 45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2006.06.027
2006
Journal Article
Effects on production traits of haplotypes among casein genes in Norwegian goats and evidence for a site of preferential recombination
Hayes, Ben, Hagesaether, Nina, Adnoy, Tormod, Pellerud, Grunde, Berg, Paul R. and Lien, Sigbjorn (2006). Effects on production traits of haplotypes among casein genes in Norwegian goats and evidence for a site of preferential recombination. Genetics, 174 (1), 455-464. doi: 10.1534/genetics.106.058966
2006
Journal Article
Power of QTL mapping experiments in commercial Atlantic salmon populations, exploiting linkage and linkage disequilibrium and effect of limited recombination in males
Hayes, B. J., Gjuvsland, A. and Omholt, S. (2006). Power of QTL mapping experiments in commercial Atlantic salmon populations, exploiting linkage and linkage disequilibrium and effect of limited recombination in males. Heredity, 97 (1), 19-26. doi: 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800827
2006
Journal Article
Use of molecular markers to maximise diversity of founder populations for aquaculture breeding programs
Hayes, Ben, He, Jie, Moen, Thomas and Bennewitz, Joern (2006). Use of molecular markers to maximise diversity of founder populations for aquaculture breeding programs. Aquaculture, 255 (1-4), 573-578. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2005.11.038
2005
Journal Article
Evaluation of three strategies using DNA markers for traceability in aquaculture species
Hayes, Ben, Sonesson, Anna K. and Gjerde, Bjarne (2005). Evaluation of three strategies using DNA markers for traceability in aquaculture species. Aquaculture, 250 (1-2), 70-81. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2005.03.008
2005
Book Chapter
Modern biotechnology and aquaculture
Hayes, Ben and Andersen, Oivind (2005). Modern biotechnology and aquaculture. Selection and Breeding Programs in Aquaculture. (pp. 301-317) Springer Netherlands. doi: 10.1007/1-4020-3342-7_19
2005
Book Chapter
Population genetics
Andersen, Oivind and Hayes, Ben (2005). Population genetics. Selection and Breeding Programs in Aquaculture. (pp. 23-33) Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer Netherlands. doi: 10.1007/1-4020-3342-7_3
2004
Book Chapter
Genome scanning for quantitative trait loci
Hayes B.J., Kinghorn B.P. and Ruvinsky A. (2004). Genome scanning for quantitative trait loci. Mammalian Genomics. (pp. 507-539) CABI Publishing.
2004
Journal Article
Break-even cost of genotyping genetic mutations affecting economic traits in Australian pig enterprises
Hayes, Ben and Goddard, Mike E. (2004). Break-even cost of genotyping genetic mutations affecting economic traits in Australian pig enterprises. Livestock Production Science, 89 (2-3), 235-242. doi: 10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.01.005
2003
Journal Article
Genotype x environment interaction for milk production of daughters of Australian dairy sires from test-day records
Hayes, B. J., Carrick, M., Bowman, P. and Goddard, M. E. (2003). Genotype x environment interaction for milk production of daughters of Australian dairy sires from test-day records. Journal of Dairy Science, 86 (11), 3736-3744. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(03)73980-0
2003
Journal Article
Evaluation of marker assisted selection in pig enterprises
Hayes, Ben and Goddard, Mike E. (2003). Evaluation of marker assisted selection in pig enterprises. Livestock Production Science, 81 (2-3), 197-211. doi: 10.1016/S0301-6226(02)00257-9
2003
Journal Article
Novel multilocus measure of linkage disequilibrium to estimate past effective population size
Hayes, Ben J., Visscher, Peter M., McPartlan, Helen C. and Goddard, Mike E. (2003). Novel multilocus measure of linkage disequilibrium to estimate past effective population size. Genome Research, 13 (4), 635-643. doi: 10.1101/gr.387103
2002
Journal Article
Look ahead mate selection schemes for multi-breed beef populations
Hayes, B., Shepherd, R. K. and Newman, S. (2002). Look ahead mate selection schemes for multi-breed beef populations. Animal Science, 74 (1), 13-23. doi: 10.1017/S1357729800052206
2001
Journal Article
The distribution of the effects of genes affecting quantitative traits in livestock
Hayes, Ben and Goddard, Mike E. (2001). The distribution of the effects of genes affecting quantitative traits in livestock. Genetics Selection Evolution, 33 (3), 209-229.
2001
Journal Article
Prediction of total genetic value using genome-wide dense marker maps
Meuwissen, T. H. E., Hayes, B. J. and Goddard, M. E. (2001). Prediction of total genetic value using genome-wide dense marker maps. Genetics, 157 (4), 1819-1829.
2000
Journal Article
Mate selection strategies to exploit across- and within-breed dominance variation
Hates, B. J. and Miller, S. P. (2000). Mate selection strategies to exploit across- and within-breed dominance variation. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 117 (5), 347-359. doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0388.2000.00252.x
2000
Journal Article
Technical note: Constrained optimization of breed composition in composite populations to balance net merit and risk
Hayes B.J., Newman S. and Shepherd R.K. (2000). Technical note: Constrained optimization of breed composition in composite populations to balance net merit and risk. Journal of Animal Science, 78 (8), 2105-2107.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Ben Hayes is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
New approaches to maximise gain and genetic diversity in plant breeding programs
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Owen Powell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic selection for finfish Breeding Programs
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Owen Powell
-
Doctor Philosophy
AI-accelerated breeding of high-protein mungbean
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Eric Dinglasan, Dr Millicent Smith
-
Doctor Philosophy
New mate allocation strategies to accelerate genetic gain in agricultural species.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Eric Dinglasan, Dr Elizabeth Ross, Dr Owen Powell
-
Doctor Philosophy
On farm genomics for selection and management in aquaculture: tank-side genotyping
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hannah Siddle
-
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular genetic analysis of rust disease resistance in wheat using cutting-edge technologies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Eric Dinglasan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic prediction for faster genetic gains in sugarcane improvement
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Eric Dinglasan, Dr Seema Yadav
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing methane emissions and improving profitability in Northern Australian beef
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kieren McCosker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Predicting better parents to accelerate genetic gain in wheat breeding
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alison Kelly, Associate Professor Karine Chenu, Dr Eric Dinglasan, Professor Lee Hickey
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic Prediction of Specific Combining Ability in Sugarcane
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Seema Yadav
-
Master Philosophy
Applying genomics tools for novel nematode resistance in sugarcane
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Eric Dinglasan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular genetic analysis of multi-disease resistance in barley using cutting-edge technologies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Eric Dinglasan
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Genotype by environment interaction for beef cattle fertility traits in northern Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Wood, Dr Elizabeth Ross
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic selection in multi-breed and multi-subspecies populations
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Optimising Genomic Selection for Sugarcane
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Kai Voss-Fels, Dr Elizabeth Ross, Dr Owen Powell
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
On-farm genotyping to accelerate genetic gain in Australia's northern beef industry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elizabeth Ross
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
A transcriptomic-based comparison of host leukocyte and skin responses to cattle tick infestation in Brangus steers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elizabeth Ross, Professor Ala Tabor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Correlation Scan: developing and applying a new method to uncover the genomic locations that affect the genetic correlations between traits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marina Fortes
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Pathogenomics of bovine infertility in northern Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Conny Turni, Associate Professor Gry Boe-Hansen, Professor Ala Tabor
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating envirotyping methodology to evaluate contributions of stay-green traits to wheat yield in Australian environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Cooper, Associate Professor Karine Chenu, Dr Kai Voss-Fels, Professor Lee Hickey
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Strategies to improve dairy cow productivity and welfare in Vietnam
Associate Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Integrating genomic selection and speed breeding to increase genetic gain in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) breeding
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Selection strategies to improve yield in macadamia using component traits and genomics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Henry, Associate Professor Craig Hardner, Dr Mobashwer Alam, Professor Bruce Topp
Media
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