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 ShepherdWhy Structural Selection Drives Long-Term Profitability with Sharon Paterson
In this episode, Ferg is chatting with Sharon Paterson from Waikaka Station in Southland, NZ. Sharon is very passionate about her flock of Texels and chats…
Head ShepherdManaging Farm Operations and Community Involvement with James Bruce
This week on the podcast, we're joined by James Bruce, a Wairarapa sheep and beef farmer running 6,000-7,000 stock units across hill country in the Maramora…
Head ShepherdWhy the Farmer is the Pharmacist of the Future with Louis De Jaeger
Our guest this week is Louis De Jaeger, a landscape designer, author and filmmaker who believes that many of agriculture’s biggest problems start with poor…
Head ShepherdHow to improve your parasite management on-farm with Greg Mirams
This week, Ferg chats with Greg Mirams, founder of Techion/FECPAK. What started as a tool to do worm egg counts on-farm has evolved into a digital platform…
Head ShepherdFootrot-free finewools at Stonyhurst with Charlie Douglas-Clifford
This week, we have Charlie from Stonyhurst on the show. Charlie and Ferg have worked together for a long time, both passionate about breeding healthy…
Head ShepherdHow to stay calm in chaos with Prue Simson
This week we’re joined by Prue Simson, who’s gone from managing the chaos of the Olympics and Formula One to running one of regional Australia’s busiest…
Head ShepherdThe Art of Angus breeding at Taimate Angus with Paul Hickman
We're sticking with cattle for one more week, and this time we have Paul Hickman from Taimate Angus on the show.Taimate is one of New Zealand's most respected…
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Chris Earl on US Angus Operations, Live from the World Angus Forum
We're back with another podcast from the World Angus Forum. This time, we have Chris Earl from CK6 Consulting, sharing his insights on ranching, genetic…
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Head Shepherd Live at the World Angus Forum
Listen to the podcast live from the World Angus Forum. Ferg chats with Chuck Grove, retired American Angus Association President, to talk all things Angus…
Head ShepherdWool’s Role in Healthier Soil with Sherri Symons
When Sherri Symons looked at five years' worth of crossbred wool gathering dust in the shed, she didn’t just see a problem, she saw an opportunity.Today, she’s…
Head ShepherdFuture-Proofing the Family Farm with Ben Law
Want to know how to future-proof your family farm for generations ahead? This is the podcast episode for you. Our guest this week is fellow podcaster Ben Law…
Head ShepherdThe Business of Farming with Nigel Kerin
Nigel is back again to discuss the business of farming, and mindset in particular. Expanding on our previous two podcasts with Nigel, he shares his approach to…
Head ShepherdImproving Agriculture’s Future with Trust and Advocacy with Claire Taylor
“Engage, not educate.” That’s Claire Taylor’s mantra when it comes to shifting agriculture’s public perception.From a career in political journalism to a…
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Managing Clostridial Disease in Sheep and Cattle with MSD Animal Health
This week on the podcast we have our sponsors, MSD Animal Health, discussing Clostridial diseases and proper vaccine protocols. Our guests, Felicity Wills and…
Head ShepherdBONUS EPISODE: Integrating Angoras with Merinos
This week we're giving you a bonus episode on the Head Shepherd Podcast. Our host Mark, also hosts the Fibre Frontier podcast and we thought this interview…
Head ShepherdStrategies for Higher Conception Rates in Cattle with Dr Pedro Fontes
This week on the Head Shepherd podcast, we’re joined by Dr Pedro Fontes from the University of Georgia to talk about beef cattle reproduction. Pedro’s research…
Head ShepherdAll you need to know about Toxoplasmosis with Connor Bury
This week on the Head Shepherd podcast, we’re deep-diving into Toxoplasma Gondii with veterinary parasitologist Connor Bury. Connor walks us through the…
Head ShepherdFrom Sheep Contracting to Livestock Consulting with Amber Smith
This week on the podcast, our guest is Amber Smith, the latest livestock consultant to join the neXtgen Agri team. Raised on a Merino stud in central-west New…
Head ShepherdBridging the Farm Ownership Gap with Sarah How
How do we get the next generation onto farms while helping established farmers transition out? In this episode of Head Shepherd, Mark chats with Sarah How…
Head ShepherdHerding the Numbers and Driving Success with Jeremy Hutchings
Most farmers focus on production—but how many focus on profit? In this episode, Jeremy Hutchings explains how mastermind groups and business coaching are…
Head ShepherdFarming in the Ocean with Maegen Blom
From dairy farming to mussels, Maegen Blom’s family took an unexpected turn into aquaculture—and she jumped right in. Now, as Operations Manager at Mills Bay…
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Better Genetics, Not Better Grooming With Dr Mark Ferguson
Some rams at sales are not what they seem. Foot trimming and excessive feeding can cover up genetic faults, and buyers are paying the price. This week, Ferg…
Head ShepherdBuilding a Sustainable Red Meat Brand with Hamish Best
What does it take to build a successful red meat brand from the ground up? Hamish Best, a sheep and beef farmer near Wellington, shares his journey in this…
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Understanding Drench Resistance in Sheep with Dr Mark Ferguson
This week it's Ferg on the podcast, discussing the trans-Tasman, if not global, issue of drench resistance in sheep. From monitoring worm burdens to selecting…
Head ShepherdElite Sports Strategies for Elite Farming with Nick Martin
This week on Head Shepherd, Ferg chats with Nick Martin about the crossover between sports psychology and farming. Off the back of his Kellogg Rural Leadership…
Head ShepherdFrom Passion to Progress in Sheep Farming with Andrew Glover
Andrew Glover, known to most as Gloves, has spent his career navigating the ins and outs of the sheep industry, managing operations that run 600,000 sheep a…
Head ShepherdThe Pursuit of Excellence at Roseville Park
This week, Mark chats with Matthew Coddington of Roseville Park Merino Stud, one of Australia’s leading Merino studs. Spanning 4,400 hectares near Dubbo, the…
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Head Shepherd LIVE 2024
We recorded our final episode of Head Shepherd 2024 live on the Hub where Mark answered listener questions. Mark also chatted about the work he has been…
Head ShepherdThe Basics of Breeding Better Animals with Rudolph Linde
In this episode, Ferg is joined by Rudolph Linde, the Business Manager of Genetic Services at Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), who shares his journey from…
Head ShepherdBreeding Better Sheep in the North Island with Dr Emma Pettigrew
In this episode of Head Shepherd, we're thrilled to introduce Dr Emma Pettigrew, our new North Island consultant at nextGen Agri. Emma brings a wealth of…
Head ShepherdThe Abundant Farmer: Mindset and Money in Agriculture with Hayley Grosser
Hayley Grosser is a farmer and business coach based in Victoria, Australia, who helps farmers change their relationship with money so they can create more…
Head ShepherdManaging Pastures for Long-Term Success with Cam Nicholson
Looking to level up your pasture and crop management? This week’s guest is Cam Nicholson of Nicon Rural, an agronomist with four decades of experience. He…
Head ShepherdFoot Health Fundamentals in Sheep with MSD Animal Health
We’re talking feet on this week's podcast! Guests Jim Walsh, Veterinary Technical Advisor at MSD Animal Health Australia, and Kim Kelly, Veterinary Technical…
Head ShepherdHow Genetics Shape Sheep Immunity with Dr Kelsey Bentley
What is actually occurring within a sheep with worm resistance? This week on the podcast we have a fascinating discussion with Dr Kelsey Bentley who has spent…
Head ShepherdOntario Sheep Farming: Insights from Dr Mark Ferguson
Sophie and Ferg catch up about Ferg’s recent trip to Ontario, Canada, where he visited 14 different sheep farming enterprises on his 10-day trip with Ontario…
Head ShepherdStrategic Farm Management with John Francis
John Francis, director of Agrista, an agricultural consultancy, discusses benchmarking, understanding optimum stocking rates, maximising pasture utilisation…
Head ShepherdChanging the Game with Bec Malseed
Bec Malseed, who manages AWI & RIST’s Lifetime Ewe Management course, in her spare time is a female central/field umpire in her local country footy regional…
Head ShepherdShaping Aussie Agriculture with Ben Simpson
Ben Simpson from OGA Creative Agency shares his passion for the varied landscape of Australian agriculture - focusing on storytelling, ethics, and innovation…
Head ShepherdSheep, Salt and Beer with David Thompson of Moojepin Foods
This week we have David Thompson of Moojepin Foods on the podcast. David talks about his career breeding trait-leading Merinos, how he is addressing salinity…
Head ShepherdFuture Trends in Lamb and Beef Markets: Expert Insights with Angus Gidley-Baird
Angus Gidley-Baird, Senior Analyst - Animal Proteins at Rabobank, joins us this week to share his expertise on the sheep and beef industries across Australia…
Head ShepherdHow Genetic Strategies Can Solve Farming Problems with Robert Peacock
This week on the podcast, we’re chatting all things livestock breeding with Robert Peacock from Orari Gorge Station. Robert discusses how and why they’ve been…
Head ShepherdBoosting Heifer Performance with Enoch Bergman’s AI Insights
Our guest this week is veterinarian Enoch Bergman. Originally from the USA, Enoch arrived in Australia in 2003. He fell in love with the people, the landscape…
Head ShepherdOur 200th Episode: Live from Lambex with Dawson Bradford
This week on the podcast we’re celebrating 200 episodes! We thought we’d make a special occasion of it so we recorded our podcast live at Lambex 2024 and who…
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Navigating Change in Farming with Bill Webb of Merinotech
If you farm Merinos in Australia, it’s more than likely you will have heard of Merinotech. And if you’ve heard of Merinotech, it's likely that you know our…
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Managing Triple Drench Resistance in Cattle
As you may have heard in the media recently, triple drench resistance in cattle is quickly becoming an issue for New Zealand farmers. This week on the podcast…
Head ShepherdThe Future of Meat Grading with Barbara Webster
Our guest on the podcast this week is Barbara Webster, co-founder of inMR. Barbara shares with Mark how inMR's Marbl™ technology uses nuclear magnetic…
Head ShepherdHeat Stress: Impacts on Sheep Reproductive Performance with Dr William van Wettere
This week on the podcast we’re discussing heat stress during mating and pregnancy with Dr William van Wettere.Heat stress is classed as anything over 32°C…
Head ShepherdResilience and Building a Sustainable Farm Business with Danielle England
Building resilience and achieving success in agriculture is an unpredictable challenge that involves continuous learning, upskilling, mentorship and adoption…
Head ShepherdDetecting Pregnancy in Cows at Day 16 with Agscent
How would you manage your cattle differently (or your sheep for that matter) if you could diagnose pregnancy at day 16? This week on the podcast, Mark chats…
Head ShepherdReal-Time Livestock Monitoring with Bill Mitchell of Optiweigh
This week on the podcast we have Bill Mitchell, co-founder of Optiweigh, discussing the Optiweigh system and its unexpected impacts on the farm businesses that…
Head ShepherdThe Benefits of EID in Commercial Sheep Farming with Richard Subtil
This week on the podcast we have Richard Subtil, from Omarama Station, a 12,000-hectare property in New Zealand's South Island. Over the last 26 years, Richard…
Head ShepherdThe Science of Food with Dr Anneline Padayachee
As food producers, should we know more about the nutrition of the products we produce? This week on the podcast we have Dr Anneline Padayachee, a food and…
Head ShepherdFrom Merinos to Marketplace Mogul with Dwain Duxson
What happens when a Merino sheep farmer turns into a digital marketplace mogul? Our guest this week, Dwain Duxson, founder of Farm Tender and The Farmers Club…
Head ShepherdMastering the Trifecta: Sheep, Beef and Dairy Management with Matt Iremonger
Join us this week and find out how Matt Iremonger manages multiple dairy, sheep and beef operations across 6,500 hectares in Canterbury, New Zealand. Matt…
Head ShepherdBreeding Brahmans with Alf Collins of ALC Brahmans
Ever wondered what it takes to breed top-quality Brahmans? This week on the podcast we have Alf Collins, of ALC Brahmans, sharing how he and the team do just…
Head ShepherdReducing Drench Usage in Sheep with Nick Cotter
From direct organic lamb sales to a firewood business and developing algorithms for drench recommendations, the Cotter family pretty much do it all. This week…
Head ShepherdBuilding Futures in Agriculture with Nancy Crawshaw
This week on the podcast we have Nancy Crawshaw, Extension Manager for Angus Australia and winner of the New Zealand Zanda McDonald Award 2024.The conversation…
Head ShepherdThe power of staying curious with Nigel Kerin
Nigel Kerin returns to the podcast this week to discuss profit drivers, decision rules, staying curious and the importance of science and technology in…
Head ShepherdThe Future of Sheep: Preview of Lambex 2024 with Jason Schulz
Are you heading to Lambex this year? If you’re not already going, you’ll want to be there after listening to this week's podcast! Our guest this week is Jason…
Head ShepherdIrrigation Insights with Tessa Chartres
This week on the podcast we have one of the fantastic winners of the 2024 Zanda McDonald Award, Tessa Chartres, to discuss her career, how she manages her…