Shows / Head Shepherd
Head Shepherd
Mark Ferguson from neXtgen Agri brings you the latest in livestock, genetics, innovation and technology. We focus on sheep and beef farming in Australia and New Zealand, and the people doing great things in those industries. To learn more about neXtgen Agri, visit www.nextgenagri.com.
Episodes
Head ShepherdQuestioning tradition in Merino breeding with Dom Hallam
Looking to change your Merino genetics? What actually happens when you switch types? For our guest this week, Dom Hallam, it started with his parents.Coming…
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Ferg’s thoughts on putting a dollar value on genetic change
What is a trait actually worth to a farming business?Ferg has spent much of his career talking about the value of genetics, but it hasn't always been easy to…
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Data driven sheep breeding at Hannaton with Jonno Hicks
What's the difference between a sheep that looks "right" and a sheep that breeds "right"? Jonno Hicks from Hannaton Poll Merinos and White Suffolks, reckons…
Head ShepherdHow hoof overgrowth impacts bone structure and long-term lameness with Laura Deeming
Ever wondered what's actually happening inside an overgrown hoof? And can you fix it once the damage is done?Our guest this week looked into just that. Dr…
Head ShepherdAdding more value to every wool clip with Willy McSkimming
Willy McSkimming is modernising the shearing industry with a new app and an improved focus on wool classing and quality. After 23 years running a major…
Head ShepherdUsing genomics to pick better replacement heifers with Geoff Hayes
How do you actually pick which heifers to keep? For many, selecting the top ones is easy, but it's those middle ones that are hard to choose between. For this…
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The science of farming with Pete Fennessy
Pete Fennessy has spent more than fifty years involved in science, genetics and livestock production, helping shape many of the ideas that transformed New…
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The process of precision sheep farming with Joshua Barton
This week on the podcast we have Joshua Barton chatting to Mark about the benefits of precision sheep management and the results it can get you. Josh is…
Head ShepherdBuilding resilient farming businesses to keep up with global demand, with Richard Green
How do Australian and New Zealand farmers stay competitive when the rest of the world is changing faster than ever?For our guest this week, Richard Green, it…
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Growing grass for sheep, stadiums and everything in between with George Fell
Long before performance recording became mainstream, George Fell's grandfather was building a sheep breeding programme around growth, efficiency and measured…
Head ShepherdTurning grass into money - this time with cattle, with Joe Kerin
What does a cow actually cost to run?At Kerin Ag, every kilogram of utilisable feed has a value attached to it. That allows Joe Kerin and the team to measure…
Head ShepherdForty years at Wairere Romneys with Simon Buckley
Few people have had a front-row seat to the genetic improvement of New Zealand sheep quite like our guest this week, Simon Buckley.After growing up in…
Head ShepherdRefugia, resistance testing, and the future of worm management with Chloe Frank
Most sheep producers assume their drenches are working. Chloe Frank's job is finding out whether they actually are.After discovering how few producers in her…
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Data driven sheep breeding with James Trowbridge
This week on the podcast, Ferg introduces James Trowbridge, the newest consultant to join the neXtgen Agri team.James grew up in South Australia working…
Head ShepherdGenomic data management and the future of breeding values with Dan Garrick
What does it take to build the data systems that sit behind your genetic evaluations?This week on the podcast, Ferg catches up with Dan Garrick from Helical…
Head ShepherdLessons learned from LambEx with Jane Kellock
Jane Kellock joins Mark to talk through the production and business decisions that have shaped their Merino operation in South Australia’s Mid North. From…
Head ShepherdHow to run a farm business your bank trusts, with Matt Hood
Matt Hood on farm succession, agribusiness banking, and building better farm businesses.Based in Marlborough, Matt has worked across sheep and beef, dairy, and…
Head ShepherdFeet, finances and faster genetic gain with Chad Taylor from Mumblebone
You'd never ignore your interest rate, so why aren't you tracking your genetic gain? This week, Ferg catches up with Chad Taylor for an update on what has been…
Head ShepherdTurning lamb data into profit with Will Barton
This week, Mark catches up with Will Barton from Gundagai Meat Processors (GMP) to chat about what has changed since his last appearance on the podcast and…
Head ShepherdWhat practical mental health support looks like in the shearing industry with Carol Mudford
This week on the podcast, Mark chats with Carol Mudford to talk about her unconventional path into the shearing sheds and the work she is now doing to help…
Head ShepherdBreeding seedstock for tough country at Hazeldean, with Bea Litchfield
Bea Litchfield is Managing Director of Hazeldean, a sixth-generation family seedstock business running both Merino and Angus studs alongside commercial…
Head ShepherdKey tips for improving the reproductive performance of your beef herd with Dr Shane Thomson
Join Mark and our guest this week, Dr Shane Thomson, to discuss some key points around reproductive performance in cattle. Shane is a veterinarian and partner…
Head ShepherdFat, fertility and the genetics of cow performance with Professor Wayne Pitchford
This week on the podcast, Professor Wayne Pitchford joins Mark Ferguson to discuss all things cow condition. Wayne has spent more than three decades at the…
Head ShepherdLifetime Ewe Management, leadership and the legacy that changed sheep farming, with Mark, Darren and Andrew [PODCASTHON]
This week on the podcast, Mark (Ferg) catches up with Andrew Kennedy (Ox) and Darren Gordon (Cat) to reflect on their early years together as well as the…
Head ShepherdUsing Genomics to Improve Heifer Selection in Commercial Beef Herds
Choosing replacement heifers shapes the productivity of a breeding herd for years to come.This week on the Head Shepherd podcast, James Starling joins Mark…
Head ShepherdUnderstanding the wool industry pipeline with Shannon Donoghue
This week on the podcast, Shannon Donoghue joins us to talk about why she's so passionate about telling the story of wool. Growing up on a sheep property in…
Head Shepherd40 years of sheep selection lessons: worm resistance, longevity and performance with Allan Richardson
How much do you hate daggy sheep? Well, what started as a frustration with daggy sheep ended up reshaping this week's guest’s entire farming system.This week…
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Ferg’s thoughts on the 25/26 ram sale season, how to buy a good ram and why breeding values matter.
Tune in this week on the Head Shepherd podcast to hear Ferg discuss the 2025/2026 ram sale period across Australia and New Zealand. He explains his approach to…
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Why you can't miss LambEx26 with Jamie Heinrich
Are you heading to LambEx26? This week on the podcast we have LambEx chair, Jamie Heinrich, on the podcast to discuss one of the sheep industry’s largest…
Head ShepherdLeading The New Zealand Merino Company into its next chapter with Angus Street
Our guest this week, Angus Street, has worked across journalism, global agricultural marketing, Asian supply chains and livestock trading before stepping into…
Head ShepherdBreeding Romneys for the rain at Kaituna Ridges
How do you breed sheep that thrive in wet coastal hill country without routine drenching? What traits actually matter when you're selecting for challenging…
Head ShepherdLessons from moving sheep genetics around the world with Ian McDougall
Ever wondered about farming New Zealand sheep in the UK, or considered farming UK shedding genetics in Australia? In this episode of Head Shepherd, Ferg speaks…
Head ShepherdHow innovation is changing the wool industry with Sam Wan
Growing up in Western Sydney with no connection to agriculture, Samantha Wan’s path into the wool industry was anything but typical.In this week's episode, Sam…
Head ShepherdPractical breeding strategies for commercial cattle producers with Carel Teseling
How can commercial producers use breeding values without recording full pedigrees? This week, Mark chats with Carel Teseling, Chief Operating Officer at Angus…
Head ShepherdFerg's thoughts on genetic gain
Ferg shares his thoughts on genetic gain in the sheep and beef industries. He has often said that we should be seeking to achieve a minimum of 2% genetic gain…
Head ShepherdSelecting for worm resistance in low-challenge systems with Swabtec
What if measuring worm resistance didn't require high parasite burdens and ALSO delivered double the heritability of egg counts?Sarah Preston, Lecturer at…
Head ShepherdIndividual ewe performance and the future of sheep productivity with Tara Dwyer
What limits ewe productivity in current sheep systems?Our guest this week, Tara Dwyer, is the breeding manager at Headwaters Genetics and a farm manager within…
Head ShepherdResults from the 'Genetics of foot health in Merinos' project with Gus Rose
Gus Rose shares the recent results from the 'Genetics of foot health in Merinos' project, which is looking at footrot and foot structure in sheep in Australia…
Head ShepherdProactive sheep management strategies with Tim Gole
On this week's episode, Tim Gole shares how sheep farmers can increase their profits by shifting from responding to problems to preventing them in the first…
Head ShepherdHow Do You Breed Short-Tailed Sheep? with Marnie Hodge
What do the genetics of tail length and the genetics of semen quality have in common? Not much, except that our guest, Marnie Hodge, Sheep Genetics Senior…
Head ShepherdGrowing More Grass and Turning It Into Growth with Bevan Ravenhill
How simple rotations and tight feed management lift whole farm performance.Mark chats with Bevan Ravenhill, WA General Manager for Lawson Angus WA, to talk…
Head ShepherdHow to Start a Cattle Business with Summit Livestock
Ever wondered what it takes to build a succesfull seedstock buisness from the ground up? Well, this is the podcast for you. This week, Mark chats with Jasmine…
Head ShepherdFinancial skills for more profitable farming with David Egerton-Warburton
Accounting may not be every farmer’s favourite topic, but it is one of the most powerful tools on the farm. This week’s Head Shepherd guest, David…
Head ShepherdTrust and Farm Advice with Dr Ruth Nettle
What makes farmers change? And what holds them back? Our guest this week, Dr Ruth Nettle, has spent 25 years studying just that. Ruth has spent her career…
Head ShepherdUnderstanding IMF, Shear Force and Marbling with Dr Peter McGilchrist
Want to know more about meat-eating quality traits like IMF, shear force and marbling? Our guest this week, Dr Peter McGilchrist, is a leading meat scientist…
Head ShepherdneXtPredict: Breeding Values Made Easy for Commercial Sheep Producers
Ever wished you could get breeding values on your commercial Merinos without having to record weights, dates or pedigrees?This week, we’re launching…
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Three sheep consultants walk into a podcast studio ...
What do you get when three sheep consultants, all podcast hosts, from Australia, England and Wales sit down in front of a microphone? You get a very…
Head ShepherdFighting drench resistance with the DAGI app, with Ryan Luckman
Is drench resistance an issue on your property? Thanks to modern technology, we have tools at our disposal to help.This week's guest is Ryan Luckman, vet and…
Head ShepherdWhat does neXtgen Agri actually do? Mark Ferguson explains
Thousands of you listen to the podcast every week, but we've come to realise many of you don't know exactly what we do here at neXtgen Agri. In this episode…
Head ShepherdOn-Farm Micron Testing with Woven Optics
Our guest this week is Vicky Alexandrou, co-founder of Woven Optics.Over the past eight years, Vicky has helped design and build a handheld microscope that…
Head ShepherdLeadership in ag with Felicity Taylor
What does leadership look like in agriculture today? For Felicity Taylor, Area Manager for Rabobank in Moree and a 2025 Zanda McDonald Award finalist, it’s…
Head ShepherdBreeding better sheep at Moojepin Merinos with Hamish Thompson
What does it take to keep a sheep business moving forward? For our guest this week, Hamish Thomson of Moojepin Merinos, it’s a mix of genetics, management and…
Head ShepherdUsing Drone Technology in Ag with SkyKelpie
Ever considered using a drone on your farm? Well, this is the podcast for you. This week, our guest is Luke Chaplain, founder of SkyKelpie. Luke is one of the…
Head ShepherdThe past, present and future of sheep genomics in New Zealand with John McEwan
If you want to know about sheep genetics in New Zealand, our guest this week, John McEwan, is the person to ask. John has been involved with genomics “since…
Head ShepherdBreeding a multi-dimensional, modern merino at Willera with Simon Coutts
When you think of a 'modern merino', what comes to mind? For our guest this week, Willera Merino stud principal, Simon Coutts, it means a sheep that works for…
Head ShepherdInside Headwaters Genetics with Simon Saunders
Simon Saunders is one of the original farmers behind Headwaters and runs the elite ewe flock at his farm, Stag Valley. In this episode, he discusses how the…
Head ShepherdWhat can US sheep farmers learn from New Zealand's success? With Dr Whit Stewart
This week, we’re chatting about the differences between US and NZ sheep production systems with Dr. Whit Stewart, an Associate Professor and Extension Sheep…
Head ShepherdStaff, Structure and Systems with Jack O’Connor
This week we’re (belatedly) joined by Jack O’Connor, winner of the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award. Jack lives and works on the family’s fourth-generation mixed…
Head ShepherdThe future of LAMBPLAN with Peta Bradley
We're back on the genetic evaluation theme with Peta Bradley, Operations Manager at Sheep Genetics, to talk all things sheep genetics and the exciting changes…
Head ShepherdGenetic Progress: Navigating trade-offs and opportunities with Jason Archer
This week, we’re joined by Jason Archer, Head of Genetics at Beef + Lamb NZ, to discuss the untapped potential of genomics in livestock.Jason has spent his…