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)

181 - 200 of 399 works

2017

Journal Article

Putative enhancer sites in the bovine genome are enriched with variants affecting complex traits

Wang, Min, Hancock, Timothy P., MacLeod, Iona M., Pryce, Jennie E., Cocks, Benjamin G. and Hayes, Benjamin J. (2017). Putative enhancer sites in the bovine genome are enriched with variants affecting complex traits. Genetics Selection Evolution, 49 (1) 56. doi: 10.1186/s12711-017-0331-4

Putative enhancer sites in the bovine genome are enriched with variants affecting complex traits

2017

Journal Article

Detection and assessment of copy number variation using PacBio long-read and Illumina sequencing in New Zealand dairy cattle

Couldrey, C., Keehan, M., Johnson, T., Tiplady, K., Winkelman, A., Littlejohn, M. D., Scott, A., Kemper, K. E., Hayes, B., Davis, S. R. and Spelman, R. J. (2017). Detection and assessment of copy number variation using PacBio long-read and Illumina sequencing in New Zealand dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 100 (7), 5472-5478. doi: 10.3168/jds.2016-12199

Detection and assessment of copy number variation using PacBio long-read and Illumina sequencing in New Zealand dairy cattle

2017

Journal Article

Exome sequence genotype imputation in globally diverse hexaploid wheat accessions

Shi, Fan, Tibbits, Josquin, Pasam, Raj K., Kay, Pippa, Wong, Debbie, Petkowski, Joanna, Forrest, Kerrie L., Hayes, Ben J., Akhunova, Alina, Davies, John, Webb, Steven, Spangenberg, German C., Akhunov, Eduard, Hayden, Matthew J. and Daetwyler, Hans D. (2017). Exome sequence genotype imputation in globally diverse hexaploid wheat accessions. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 130 (7), 1393-1404. doi: 10.1007/s00122-017-2895-3

Exome sequence genotype imputation in globally diverse hexaploid wheat accessions

2017

Journal Article

Genomic prediction of reproduction traits for Merino sheep

Bolormaa, S., Brown, D. J., Swan, A. A., van der Werf, J. H. J., Hayes, B. J. and Daetwyler, H. D. (2017). Genomic prediction of reproduction traits for Merino sheep. Animal Genetics, 48 (3), 338-348. doi: 10.1111/age.12541

Genomic prediction of reproduction traits for Merino sheep

2017

Journal Article

Mitigation of inbreeding while preserving genetic gain in genomic breeding programs for outbred plants

Lin, Zibei, Shi, Fan, Hayes, Ben J. and Daetwyler, Hans D. (2017). Mitigation of inbreeding while preserving genetic gain in genomic breeding programs for outbred plants. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 130 (5), 969-980. doi: 10.1007/s00122-017-2863-y

Mitigation of inbreeding while preserving genetic gain in genomic breeding programs for outbred plants

2017

Journal Article

Evaluating the ability of a lifetime nutrient-partitioning model for simulating the performance of Australian Holstein dairy cows

Phuong, H. N., Friggens, N. C., Martin, O., Blavy, P., Hayes, B. J., Wales, W. J. and Pryce, J. E. (2017). Evaluating the ability of a lifetime nutrient-partitioning model for simulating the performance of Australian Holstein dairy cows. Animal Production Science, 57 (7), 1563-1568. doi: 10.1071/AN16452

Evaluating the ability of a lifetime nutrient-partitioning model for simulating the performance of Australian Holstein dairy cows

2017

Journal Article

Partitioning of energy and nitrogen in lactating primiparous and multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with divergent residual feed intake

Marett, L. C., Williams, S. R. O., Hayes, B. J., Pryce, J. E. and Wales, W. J. (2017). Partitioning of energy and nitrogen in lactating primiparous and multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with divergent residual feed intake. Animal Production Science, 57 (7), 1499-1506. doi: 10.1071/AN16476

Partitioning of energy and nitrogen in lactating primiparous and multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with divergent residual feed intake

2017

Journal Article

Including nonadditive genetic effects in mating programs to maximize dairy farm profitability

Aliloo, H., Pryce, J. E., Gonzalez-Recio, O., Cocks, B. G., Goddard, M. E. and Hayes, B. J. (2017). Including nonadditive genetic effects in mating programs to maximize dairy farm profitability. Journal of Dairy Science, 100 (2), 1203-1222. doi: 10.3168/jds.2016-11261

Including nonadditive genetic effects in mating programs to maximize dairy farm profitability

2017

Journal Article

Detection and validation of structural variations in bovine whole-genome sequence data

Chen, Long, Chamberlain, Amanda J., Reich, Coralie M., Daetwyler, Hans D. and Hayes, Ben J. (2017). Detection and validation of structural variations in bovine whole-genome sequence data. Genetics Selection Evolution, 49 (1) 13. doi: 10.1186/s12711-017-0286-5

Detection and validation of structural variations in bovine whole-genome sequence data

2017

Journal Article

Corrigendum: Genomic selection improves heat tolerance in dairy cattle

Garner, J. B., Douglas, M. L., Williams, S. R. O., Wales, W. J., Marett, L. C., Nguyen, T. T. T., Reich, C. M. and Hayes, B. J. (2017). Corrigendum: Genomic selection improves heat tolerance in dairy cattle. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 39896, 39896. doi: 10.1038/srep39896

Corrigendum: Genomic selection improves heat tolerance in dairy cattle

2017

Conference Publication

Indirect prediction of macadamia yield through a genome wide association study of component traits

O'Connor, Katie, Hayes, Ben, Hardner, Craig, Mobashwer Alam and Topp, Bruce (2017). Indirect prediction of macadamia yield through a genome wide association study of component traits. International Macadamia Research Symposium, Hawaii, United States, 13-14 September 2017.

Indirect prediction of macadamia yield through a genome wide association study of component traits

2017

Journal Article

A practical future-scenarios selection tool to breed for heat tolerance in Australian dairy cattle

Nguyen, Thuy T. T., Hayes, Ben J. and Pryce, Jennie E. (2017). A practical future-scenarios selection tool to breed for heat tolerance in Australian dairy cattle. Animal Production Science, 57 (7), 1488-1493. doi: 10.1071/AN16449

A practical future-scenarios selection tool to breed for heat tolerance in Australian dairy cattle

2017

Journal Article

Optimizing resource allocation in a genomic breeding program for perennial ryegrass to balance genetic gain, cost, and inbreeding

Lin, Zibei, Wang, Junping, Cogan, Noel O. I., Pembleton, Luke W., Badenhorst, Pieter, Forster, John W., Spangenberg, German C., Hayes, Ben J. and Daetwyler, Hans D. (2017). Optimizing resource allocation in a genomic breeding program for perennial ryegrass to balance genetic gain, cost, and inbreeding. Crop Science, 57 (1), 243-252. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2016.07.0577

Optimizing resource allocation in a genomic breeding program for perennial ryegrass to balance genetic gain, cost, and inbreeding

2017

Journal Article

Responses of dairy cows to short-term heat stress in controlled-climate chambers

Garner, J. B., Douglas, M., Williams, S. R. O., Wales, W. J., Marett, L. C., DiGiacomo, K., Leury, B. J. and Hayes, B. J. (2017). Responses of dairy cows to short-term heat stress in controlled-climate chambers. Animal Production Science, 57 (7), 1233-1241. doi: 10.1071/AN16472

Responses of dairy cows to short-term heat stress in controlled-climate chambers

2016

Journal Article

Leveraging genetically simple traits to identify small-effect variants for complex phenotypes

Kemper, K. E., Littlejohn, M. D., Lopdell, T., Hayes, B. J., Bennett, L. E., Williams, R. P., Xu, X. Q., Visscher, P. M., Carrick, M. J. and Goddard, M. E. (2016). Leveraging genetically simple traits to identify small-effect variants for complex phenotypes. BMC Genomics, 17 (1) 858, 858. doi: 10.1186/s12864-016-3175-3

Leveraging genetically simple traits to identify small-effect variants for complex phenotypes

2016

Journal Article

Improving genetic gain with genomic selection in autotetraploid potato

Slater, Anthony T., Cogan, Noel O. I., Forster, John W., Hayes, Benjamin J. and Daetwyler, Hans D. (2016). Improving genetic gain with genomic selection in autotetraploid potato. Plant Genome, 9 (3), plantgenome2016.02.0021-15. doi: 10.3835/plantgenome2016.02.0021

Improving genetic gain with genomic selection in autotetraploid potato

2016

Journal Article

GO-FAANG meeting: a gathering on functional annotation of animal genomes

Tuggle, Christopher K., Giuffra, Elisabetta, White, Stephen N., Clarke, Laura, Zhou, Huaijun, Ross, Pablo J., Acloque, Herve, Reecy, James M., Archibald, Alan, Bellone, Rebecca R., Boichard, Michele, Chamberlain, Amanda, Cheng, Hans, Crooijmans, Richard P. M. A., Delany, Mary E., Finno, Carrie J., Groenen, Martien A. M., Hayes, Ben, Lunney, Joan K., Petersen, Jessica L., Plastow, Graham S., Schmidt, Carl J., Song, Jiuzhou and Watson, Mick (2016). GO-FAANG meeting: a gathering on functional annotation of animal genomes. Animal Genetics, 47 (5), 528-533. doi: 10.1111/age.12466

GO-FAANG meeting: a gathering on functional annotation of animal genomes

2016

Journal Article

Genomewide association study of methane emissions in Angus beef cattle with validation in dairy cattle

Manzanilla-Pech, C. I. V., De Haas, Y., Hayes, B. J., Veerkamp, R. F., Khansefid, M., Donoghue, K. A., Arthur, P. F. and Pryce, J. E. (2016). Genomewide association study of methane emissions in Angus beef cattle with validation in dairy cattle. Journal of Animal Science, 94 (10), 4151-4166. doi: 10.2527/jas.2016-0431

Genomewide association study of methane emissions in Angus beef cattle with validation in dairy cattle

2016

Journal Article

A hybrid expectation maximisation and MCMC sampling algorithm to implement Bayesian mixture model based genomic prediction and QTL mapping

Wang, Tingting, Chen, Yi-Ping Phoebe, Bowman, Phil J., Goddard, Michael E. and Hayes, Ben J. (2016). A hybrid expectation maximisation and MCMC sampling algorithm to implement Bayesian mixture model based genomic prediction and QTL mapping. BMC Genomics, 17 (1) 744, 744. doi: 10.1186/s12864-016-3082-7

A hybrid expectation maximisation and MCMC sampling algorithm to implement Bayesian mixture model based genomic prediction and QTL mapping

2016

Journal Article

Genomic selection improves heat tolerance in dairy cattle

Garner, J. B., Douglas, M. L., Williams, S. R. O., Wales, W. J., Marett, L. C., Nguyen, T. T. T., Reich, C. M. and Hayes, B. J. (2016). Genomic selection improves heat tolerance in dairy cattle. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 34114, 34114. doi: 10.1038/srep34114

Genomic selection improves heat tolerance 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

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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