Our Team
Gilbert Jeyaruban
Principal Research Fellow
Phone: +61 2 6773 2879
Email: gjeyarub@une.edu.au
Gilbert has over 34 years of experience in research and development of improving the genetic potential of beef, goats, dairy and poultry in developed and, as well as, in developing countries. His current research is focused on developing genetic evaluation for beef cattle in Australia to improve their productivity. Introduction of new traits into BREEDPLAN, which requires expert analysis of large datasets to understand the genetic architecture of each trait and how each trait is related to all others genetically. In non-technical terms, this means determining the extent to which differences in animals’ genes are reflected in differences in observed performance, and the extent to which genes affecting one trait also affect other traits. These parameters are the heritability of a trait and the genetic correlations between traits respectively, and these parameters are used in the analysis of large industry datasets from which estimates of the value of each animal’s genes for each trait (these estimates are known as Estimated Breeding Values, or EBVs, and the basic language of genetic improvement in beef cattle in this country). Obtaining reliable estimates of the parameters for each breed is a meticulous analytical skill, essential to ensuring reliable EBVs.
This reliability is essential to ensuring that bull breeders and commercial producers can trust the EBVs, and make use of them in their breeding decisions. BREEDPLAN currently generates c. 30 EBVs per breed, with over 200,000 new animals being submitted for evaluation each year in Australia. Industry impact statistics show that use of BREEDPLAN has increased (volume of animals, amount of genetic improvement) by 35% between 2011-2015 and 2016-2020 – indicating increasing trust in the EBVs – which in turn reflects faith in the underlying analysis, for which the genetic parameters are central.
Gilbert has led the development of a large number of new traits for BREEDPLAN through the last decade, as well as re-estimating the parameters for existing sets of traits as large volumes of new data are added. As such Gilbert is directly responsible for this accuracy that the industry has come to expect and rely on.
Gilbert is also one of the stand-out scientists within AGBU in supervision of post-graduate students. He has taken on several students in recent years within AGBU’s growing post-grad program. These students have required more than “standard” supervisor input reflecting challenges with English language and technical development required – however, all have graduated successfully, and grow AGBU networks domestically and internationally. Gilbert is a true mentor to these students, sticking with them through the challenges that are characteristic of this area and see that they not only complete, but also publish successfully.