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 career working across beef, sheep, and even deer between Australia and New Zealand. He and Ferg chat about where genomics is taking us, why some of our current systems are holding things back, and what it might take to unlock faster progress in traits like feed efficiency and methane. Why genetics is still underused in livestock breeding How...
Jul 06, 2025•45 min•Season 2025Ep. 239
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 with Ferg about her selection process and her very rigorous culling criteria for structure and litter size, which have led to a uniform and productive line of sheep. Ferg and Sharon discuss How structure improves stayability How culling singles over the years has improved fertility. How improved survivability counteracts a lower scanning perc...
Jun 29, 2025•39 min•Season 2025Ep. 238
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 area. James shares his practical strategies for managing farmer mental health and well-being. James discusses his "ripple effect" philosophy of how one person's mood affects their entire team, whether in the farm yards or on the rugby field. He also reveals his tidy approach to balancing multiple commitments, the importance of celebrating sm...
Jun 22, 2025•27 min•Season 2025Ep. 237
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 soil. In this episode, he and Ferg explore soil as a living system. One that can reduce costs, improve resilience, and produce more nutrient-dense food when managed well. They talk about building long-term fertility without synthetic fertilisers, how some farmers are fighting drought and climate change, and the link between soil microbes and ...
Jun 15, 2025•54 min•Season 2025Ep. 236
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 that reads samples using AI, returns results in minutes, and is helping farmers tackle drench resistance head-on. They cover the early days of FECPAK, how AI is speeding up diagnosis, what species ID could unlock for breeders, and why post-treatment testing matters more than ever. • Why drench resistance is no longer a “maybe” and what farmer...
Jun 08, 2025•41 min•Season 2025Ep. 235
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, productive sheep. They discuss how Stonyhurst has managed to breed fine-wool sheep that don't need footrot treatment, are improving lambing and weaning percentages, and dropping their micron. Charlie also discusses Stonyhurst's cattle and deer operation, and some of the 175 years of history his family have there on the property. If you breed fine-...
Jun 01, 2025•46 min•Season 2025Ep. 234
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 agricultural venues, The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre in Tamworth. Whilst this is slightly different to our normal podcast, Prue's experience leading teams under pressure, dealing with legacy and change and large-scale event management is all relevant to managing a farm, especially around planning for the unexpected, building st...
May 25, 2025•37 min•Season 2025Ep. 233
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 cattle studs, and in this episode Paul shares the story of how the family farm has evolved since 1905 from running sheep studs, to now focusing solely on Angus cattle. Paul discusses the importance of structural strength in breeding, emphasising that it's not just about breeding values. Structure and phenotype still play a crucial role. F...
May 18, 2025•38 min•Season 2025Ep. 232
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 consulting, and the challenges faced in the cattle industry. He and Ferg chat about the importance of cash flow management, building a brand, and the innovative strategies for selling meat. Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited . We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in tou...
May 11, 2025•18 min•Season 2025Ep. 231
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 cattle. Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited . We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: info@nextgenagri.com. Thanks to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger...
May 04, 2025•20 min•Season 2025Ep. 230
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 the founder of Aussie Wool Pellets and WoolGrow, creating environmentally friendly, biodegradable gardening products from 100% Australian wool. Her products: ✅ Provide slow-release nitrogen ✅ Hold three times their weight in water ✅ Feed soil microorganisms ✅ Deter slugs and snails naturally ✅ Break down into the soil to boost carbon and...
Apr 27, 2025•41 min•Season 2025Ep. 229
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, aka 'The Financial Bloke'. Ben is a former financial advisor who now works as a strategic coach, helping farming families grow, protect and transition their wealth across generations. Ben shares his background in financial law, the reasons behind his career shift and the work he does now with farming families. He explains the common challe...
Apr 20, 2025•50 min•Season 2025Ep. 228
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 business, the evolution of his mindset and strategies for managing risk and climate variability. He also talks about the importance of continual learning and, as Nigel puts it, “buying brains”. In this episode, we discuss: ✔ How to build a resilient farm business ✔ What good leadership really looks like on-farm ✔ Why scaling up isn’t alwa...
Apr 13, 2025•1 hr 36 min•Season 2025Ep. 227
“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 Nuffield Scholarship spanning 16 countries, Claire has seen firsthand how farming is scrutinised around the world. We chat about: - breaking out of the agricultural echo chamber - the power of agritourism - why trust-building, not just broadcasting, is the key to better advocacy - the latest farming unrest in the UK, and - her move from Scotla...
Apr 06, 2025•49 min•Season 2025Ep. 227
This week on the podcast we have our sponsors, MSD Animal Health, discussing Clostridial diseases and proper vaccine protocols. Our guests, Felicity Wills and Hamish Pike, are both Veterinary Technical Advisors for the company, and discuss the prevalence, symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies associated with Clostridial diseases. From Pulpy Kidney to Blackleg, we cover what happens, what to look for, and why vaccines are a simple but essential tool for preventing losses. Why clostrid...
Mar 30, 2025•36 min•Season 2025Ep. 226
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 with Dr Susan Robertson was worth sharing with our audience here on Head Shepherd. The Fibre Frontier is supported by AgriFutures Australia and the Goat Fibre Producers of Australia. Find more on AgriFutures Australia's Goat Fibre Program here - https://agrifutures.com.au/rural-industries/goat-fibre/ . You can find related information and a w...
Mar 26, 2025•31 min•Season 2025Ep. 225
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 focuses on optimising fertility through artificial insemination (AI), synchronisation protocols, and embryo transfer strategies. Mark and Pedro discuss the latest findings on GnRH compounds, how pre-synchronisation boosts conception rates, why improved ultrasound technology is enhancing embryo recipient selection and how excess bull condi...
Mar 23, 2025•51 min•Season 2025Ep. 224
This week on the Head Shepherd podcast, we’re deep-diving into Toxoplasma Gondii with veterinary parasitologist Connor Bury. Connor walks us through the lifecycle of the parasite, how it’s impacting sheep farmers across the world, and what we can do to reduce the impacts of it. Whilst many know that cats are the main culprits in spreading toxo, did you know the importance of water quality when it comes to reducing the spread of the parasite? Tune in today to learn more and equip yourself with th...
Mar 16, 2025•35 min•Season 2025Ep. 223
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 South Wales, Amber developed a deep connection to livestock early on, working with sheep, cattle, dogs and horses. After completing an honours degree in Animal Science at the University of New England, she ventured north to the cattle stations of the Northern Territory. Returning south, Amber launched her own sheep contracting business, ga...
Mar 09, 2025•19 min•Season 2025Ep. 222
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, co-founder of Landify and New Zealand finalist for the Zanda McDonald Award. Sarah shares her journey from family farming in Mid-Canterbury to launching a platform that connects farmers, aspiring landowners, and investors. Sarah co-founded Landify after years of working in agronomy and research when she saw firsthand the challenges both young...
Mar 02, 2025•31 min•Season 2025Ep. 221
Most farmers focus on production—but how many focus on profit? In this episode, Jeremy Hutchings explains how mastermind groups and business coaching are changing the game for farmers. Do you know your key business numbers? Do you have a 3–5 year plan for your farm? Are you surrounded by people who push you forward? Jeremy Hutchings has worked with hundreds of farmers to turn good farms into great businesses. In this episode, he explains why mindset, strategy, and networks separate top-performin...
Feb 23, 2025•36 min•Season 2025Ep. 220
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 Mussels, Maegen is tackling the challenges of farming a live product, managing an unpredictable supply chain, and pushing for better mussel genetics. In this episode, we get into the quirks of mussel farming, from harvesting wild spat to outsmarting snapper, and why the industry is still full of untapped potential. How a dairy farming famil...
Feb 16, 2025•26 min•Season 2025Ep. 219
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 breaks down what’s really happening in the industry and how we can fix it. 🐏 The problem with foot trimming in stud sales – why it hides genetic faults. 📉 How overfeeding sale rams distorts their true potential. 🏡 Why animals should be presented as they are—no sheds, no tricks. 🧬 The push for breeding values to improve foot structure. 💰...
Feb 09, 2025•18 min•Season 2025Ep. 218
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 episode, from his background in agronomy and sales to his return to farming. He chats about the challenges of maintaining product quality and consistency while growing a brand that resonates with consumers. Hamish also discusses his plans for the future and how he’s making his farming model economically sustainable. This conversation is packe...
Feb 02, 2025•28 min•Season 2025Ep. 217
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 rams with the right genetics, this episode is packed with practical advice and strategies to help sheep farmers manage internal parasites more effectively. Testing drench efficacy Using refugia to manage resistance Genetic tools for long-term solutions Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited . We help livest...
Jan 26, 2025•27 min•Season 2025Ep. 216
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 research into the performance psychology of elite Canterbury sheep and beef farmers, Nick shares practical tools like self-talk, visualisation and box breathing, to help sharpen focus and navigate high-pressure situations. The conversation highlights what sets top performers apart, with a focus on mindset, self-awareness and goal setting....
Jan 19, 2025•38 min•Season 2025Ep. 215
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 year. He started his career straight out of school, wool classing, and is now station manager at one of Australia’s largest and most innovative sheep studs, Pooginook. Andrew’s passion for the job has only grown, as has his understanding of what makes farming work. He knows that success comes down to investing in the right places—genetics, i...
Jan 12, 2025•25 min•Season 2025Ep. 214
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 farm is home to 11,000 sheep and a legacy of innovation and resilience built by Matthew’s family. Matthew shares insights into the evolution of sheep breeding, from traditional practices to advanced technologies like genomic profiling and embryo transfer. He highlights the importance of long-term breeding goals, diversification, and creatin...
Jan 05, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 2025Ep. 214
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 involved with in 2024. - GEPEP project and its applicability to composites and strongwool sheep - Should you be breeding your own rams? - Testing for efficiency in confinement - Grazing behaviour of sheep Thanks to everyone who tuned in to Head Shepherd in 2024 Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited . We help lives...
Dec 29, 2024•37 min•Ep. 213
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 diversified farming operations in South Africa to a career across New Zealand, the UK, and now Australia. With a strong passion for animal science and genetics, Rudolph delves into the principles of genetic improvement, the importance of variation, and how Australia’s leading genetic databases are driving innovation in livestock productio...
Dec 22, 2024•50 min•Season 2024Ep. 213
