Overview
Background
Dr Christie Warburton is a livestock geneticist at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland. Her research uses quantitative genetics, genomics, and whole‑genome sequence data to improve genetic evaluation and breeding outcomes across beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, and buffalo, with projects spanning Australia and international production systems.
Christie’s work focuses on understanding genomic architecture in multi-breed and multi-subspecies populations, including population stratification, SNP ascertainment bias, and IBS/IBD relationships. She develops and applies methods that improve the accuracy and fairness of genomic predictions in composite, crossbred, and tropically adapted livestock.
She is passionate about mentoring students and working collaboratively on projects that sit at the intersection of advanced statistical genomics and real‑world breeding challenges. Christie welcomes Honours and higher degree research students interested in livestock genomics, breeding program design, and improving the productivity, resilience, and sustainability of global livestock systems.
Availability
- Dr Christie Warburton is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Quantitative Genetics, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Christie Warburton’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Genetic linkage map of the Australian barramundi (Lates calcarifer) reveals potential to leverage extreme sex-specific recombination and sequential hermaphrodism for ultimate breeding program control
Hintzsche, Jessica, Bertola, Lorenzo V., Jones, David B., Warburton, Christie, Powell, Owen, Ross, Elizabeth M., Harrison, Paul, Cate, Holly S., Jerry, Dean R., Hayes, Ben J. and Zenger, Kyall R. (2026). Genetic linkage map of the Australian barramundi (Lates calcarifer) reveals potential to leverage extreme sex-specific recombination and sequential hermaphrodism for ultimate breeding program control. Aquaculture, 622 744046, 744046. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.744046
2026
Journal Article
Ascertainment Bias in Cattle <scp>SNP</scp> Arrays and Implications for Multibreed Genomic Predictions
Warburton, Christie L. and Hayes, Ben J. (2026). Ascertainment Bias in Cattle SNP Arrays and Implications for Multibreed Genomic Predictions. Animal Genetics, 57 (2) e70081, e70081. doi: 10.1002/age.70081
2026
Journal Article
Factors affecting recording methane emission phenotypes of composite and crossbreed beef cattle grazing tropical and subtropical rangelands of northern Australia
Whistler, Cameron, McCosker, Kieren, Warburton, Christie, Johnston, David, Grant, Tim, Taylor, Bradley, Goodwin, Kerry, Dayman, Melissah, Scott, Natalie, Cullen, Scott, Dekkers, Milou H, Clark, Sam and Hayes, Ben J (2026). Factors affecting recording methane emission phenotypes of composite and crossbreed beef cattle grazing tropical and subtropical rangelands of northern Australia. Journal of Animal Science, 104 skag050, 104. doi: 10.1093/jas/skag050
2026
Conference Publication
Genomic prediction to select for lower methane production in purebred, crossbreed and composite cattle in Northern Australia
Whistler, Cameron, Warburton, Christie, McCosker, Kieren and Hayes, Ben J. (2026). Genomic prediction to select for lower methane production in purebred, crossbreed and composite cattle in Northern Australia. Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-13 March 2026. Roma, QLD Australia: Northern Beef Research Advisory Council.
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Potential approaches to create ultimate genotypes in crops and livestock
Hayes, Ben J., Mahony, Timothy J., Villiers, Kira, Warburton, Christie, Kemper, Kathryn E., Dinglasan, Eric, Robinson, Hannah, Powell, Owen, Voss-Fels, Kai, Godwin, Ian D. and Hickey, Lee T. (2024). Potential approaches to create ultimate genotypes in crops and livestock. Nature Genetics, 56 (11), 2310-2317. doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01942-0
2024
Other Outputs
Genomic selection in multi-breed and multi-subspecies populations
Warburton, Christie L. (2024). Genomic selection in multi-breed and multi-subspecies populations. PhD Thesis, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland.
2024
Journal Article
Estimating the heritability of nitrogen and carbon isotopes in the tail hair of beef cattle
Moradi, Morteza, Warburton, Christie L., Porto-Neto, Laercio Ribeiro and Silva, Luis F. P. (2024). Estimating the heritability of nitrogen and carbon isotopes in the tail hair of beef cattle. Genetics Selection Evolution, 56 (1) 3, 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s12711-023-00870-7
2023
Conference Publication
Estimating the heritability of nitrogen and carbon isotopes in the tail hair of beef cattle
Prada e Silva, Luis, Moradi, Morteza and Warburton, Christie (2023). Estimating the heritability of nitrogen and carbon isotopes in the tail hair of beef cattle. ASAS Annual 2023 Meeting, Athens, Greece, 13-14 January 2023. Cary, NC, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad281.032
2023
Journal Article
Concurrently mapping quantitative trait loci associations from multiple subspecies within hybrid populations
Warburton, Christie L., Costilla, Roy, Engle, Bailey N., Moore, Stephen S., Corbet, Nicholas J., Fordyce, Geoffry, McGowan, Michael R., Burns, Brian M. and Hayes, Ben J. (2023). Concurrently mapping quantitative trait loci associations from multiple subspecies within hybrid populations. Heredity, 131 (5-6), 350-360. doi: 10.1038/s41437-023-00651-4
2022
Conference Publication
Simultaneous mapping of quantitative trait loci in multiple subspecies using hybrid populations
Warburton, C.L., Costilla, R.C., Engle, B.N. and Hayes, B.J. (2022). Simultaneous mapping of quantitative trait loci in multiple subspecies using hybrid populations. 12th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (WCGALP), Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 3-8 July 2022. Wageningen, The Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers. doi: 10.3920/978-90-8686-940-4_179
2021
Journal Article
Breed-adjusted genomic relationship matrices as a method to account for population stratification in multibreed populations of tropically adapted beef heifers
Warburton, Christie L., Costilla, Roy, Engle, Bailey N., Corbet, Nicholas J., Allen, Jack M., Fordyce, Geoffry, McGowan, Michael R., Burns, Brian M. and Hayes, Ben J. (2021). Breed-adjusted genomic relationship matrices as a method to account for population stratification in multibreed populations of tropically adapted beef heifers. Animal Production Science, 61 (18), 1788-1795. doi: 10.1071/an21057
2020
Journal Article
Use of whole-genome sequence data and novel genomic selection strategies to improve selection for age at puberty in tropically-adapted beef heifers
Warburton, Christie L., Engle, Bailey N., Ross, Elizabeth M., Costilla, Roy, Moore, Stephen S., Corbet, Nicholas J., Allen, Jack M., Laing, Alan R., Fordyce, Geoffry, Lyons, Russell E., McGowan, Michael R., Burns, Brian M. and Hayes, Ben J. (2020). Use of whole-genome sequence data and novel genomic selection strategies to improve selection for age at puberty in tropically-adapted beef heifers. Genetics Selection Evolution, 52 (1) 28, 28. doi: 10.1186/s12711-020-00547-5
2016
Journal Article
Genetic evaluation of maternal behaviour and temperament in Australian sheep
Brown, D. J., Fogarty, N. M., Iker, C. L., Ferguson, D. M., Blache, D. and Gaunt, G. M. (2016). Genetic evaluation of maternal behaviour and temperament in Australian sheep. Animal Production Science, 56 (4), 767-774. doi: 10.1071/AN14945
2009
Journal Article
Genetics of meat quality and carcass traits and the impact of tenderstretching in two tropical beef genotypes
Wolcott, M. L., Johnston, D. J., Barwick, S. A., Iker, C. L., Thompson, J. M. and Burrow, H. M. (2009). Genetics of meat quality and carcass traits and the impact of tenderstretching in two tropical beef genotypes. Animal Production Science, 49 (5-6), 383-398. doi: 10.1071/EA08275
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Christie Warburton is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
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