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
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 Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Wyoming.
Whit has spent the last year on a sabbatical in New Zealand, learning and absorbing as much as he can about sheep farming here. Because of this, he has some great insights into the comparisons between s...
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 farming operation, Oxton Park, in southern NSW.
He and Ferg discuss his career so far and why, for Jack, business success comes down to the people and community he works alongside. And with 20 staff, 15 properties, and both livestock and cropping enterprises, that focus on people ...
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 that are happening at MLA in terms of bringing the two LAMBPLAN databases together.
Peta also discusses the evolution of the Sheep Genetics genetic evaluation over the years, the crucial role of genomics as well as phenotypes and a current reference population, as well a...
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 me...
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 ferti...
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 h...
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 dro...
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...
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...
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 managi...
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 j...
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 hel...
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.
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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 microorganis...
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...
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 g...
“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...
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 va...
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....
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 i...
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