Robert Banks

Biography

Rob Banks is a PhD graduate of UNE, with a career in Research and Development for the genetic improvement of Australia's extensive livestock industries. He worked for Meat and Livestock Australia for nearly 25 years, initially in the role of establishing the genetic evaluation system for the Australian lamb industry, LAMBPLAN. Rob then led the process of extending LAMBPLAN to provide genetic evaluation for the Merino industry.

More recently, and in response to rapid advances in genomic technologies over the last five years, Rob led the development of Information Nucleus flocks and herds. Intensive recording of performance in these populations will help maximise the returns from investing in genomic testing in the Australian red meat industries.

Rob's role in Meat and Livestock Australia extended to include management of R&D investments across the full spectrum of pasture improvement, grazing systems, climate change adaptation and genetic improvement.

Since taking up the role of Director, Rob has guided projects focused on genetic evaluation of dairy goats and honeybees, as well as contributing to AGBU's portfolio of projects.

Qualifications

AgrSc (Tas), PhD (UNE)

Research Interests

Information Nucleus flocks and herds, genomic testing, genetic evaluation of dairy goats and honey bees.

Publications

Conference, Workshop and Seminar Papers - Refereed

Graham,  P; Swan, A A and Banks, R G (2015).  “Merino  breeding objectives under climate change.”   Submitted to Proc. Assoc. Advmt. Anim. Breed. Genet.

Zhang, Y; Tier, B and Banks, R G (2015).  “Genetic  analyses on carcase characters of Australian Wagyu beef cattle.”  Submitted to Proc. Assoc. Advmt. Anim. Breed.  Genet.

Journal Articles - Refereed

Brown, D J, Swan, A A, Gill, J S, Ball, A J and Banks, R G (2015).  “Genetic parameters for liveweight, wool and  worm resistance traits in multi-breed Australian meat sheep. 1. Description of  traits, fixed effects, variance components and their ratios.”  Animal  Production Science doi: org/10.1071/AN14787.

Pitchford, W; Accioly, J; Banks, R G; Barnes,  A; Barwick, S; Copping, K; Deland, M; Donoghue, K; Edwards, N; Hebart,  M; Herd, R; Jones, F; Laurence, M; Lee, S; McKiernan, W; Parnell, P; Speijers,  S; Tudor, G and Graham, J (2015).   “Genesis, design and methods of the Beef CRC Maternal Productivity  Project.”  Animal Production Science (accepted).

Rowe, J and Banks, R G (2015).  Sheep industry productivity – the role of  genomics and digital data.”  Farm Policy Journal 12(1):21-31.

Conference, Workshop and Seminar Papers - Refereed

Graham,  P; Swan, A A and Banks, R G (2015).  “Merino  breeding objectives under climate change.”   Submitted to Proc. Assoc. Advmt. Anim. Breed. Genet.

Zhang, Y; Tier, B and Banks, R G (2015).  “Genetic  analyses on carcase characters of Australian Wagyu beef cattle.”  Submitted to Proc. Assoc. Advmt. Anim. Breed.  Genet.