March 4, 2026 • 9 mins
Nige lWoodhead says worm counts are high at the moment on his farm and why faecal egg testing is so relevant.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This interview is brought to you by Agri Center South
branches in Lawnville, Gore, Cromwell, Milton, and Ranvilly. Drop by
your local Agri Center South brunch today.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Niger Woodhead Farmers in South Otago between bel Cluther and Milton.
Just head towards the hills for a webit and you'll
find this place somewhere in amongst the mix ga day nights.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
How are you andy?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Daylight? This you can't really Complain's.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
As good as one of those short sleeve shirt and
shorts from first thing in the morning when you walk
out the door day to day. It's been We've been
looking forward to them. It's been awesome.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, take the w's while you've got them. So ground
conditions there, hell, are you looking a good?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah? No, grand conditions are good. It was interesting we
made our whole crop silage last week and you know
the contract who comes from other clydeva away was sort
of saying, you know, it was amazing how much wetter
it was over here than than home. And then they
called a US today to pick up a trektor in
a right it was still sitting here and they said
the same thing, said either you're a lot greener than
(01:04):
than like's a cloud bar. It's a bit drier over there.
So yeah, we're still yeah, we've still got plenty of moisture.
There's there's no sign of drought here anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So like fake covers and that lambs are doing pretty
good or what else is going on in such?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, lambs, lambs are doing well. We killed four fifty
four sixty lambs off Cropperer in the week and they
killed pretty well to what was it turned and thirteen
dollars or something in their hands, so I'll take that.
And everything else is pretty much just sort of spread out,
got blocks and just shoffing them around. And they're blocks,
(01:41):
you know, like a few limbs have got or set
two five five paducks and they'll just go round and round,
and I'm just shoffing some works lambs a bit closer
to the yard this afternoon, then I'll I'll get drenched
in the morning and same thing. They've got three or
four paddicks and then they'll be in a week's time
they go to the next three four. Just keep them
(02:02):
rotating around and giving them plenty of space and feed
and water, and they seem to be doing well. Yeah,
so it's probably just use at the moment really just
trying to keep the US moving, put as much weight
on them as we can.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Trying to get there flashing before the boys go out.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah, we sure them do about ten days ago, and
then there was a cold week and I don't think
they liked it too much. I just reckon, they're a
bit lighter than where they should be. And they're definitely
too light there, a lot lighter than where we're a
lot of them to be for the rams. So trying
to put some trying to put some weight on them,
you know, not make them do any too much hard work.
(02:40):
If anything need if any panics need tidied up, we'll
just running behind them with the topper and and top it,
cut some thistles off and a bit of rent feed
and keep the US moving to try and put weight on.
So yeah, hopefully have a bit of warmth like this.
The feed all hard en up. I reckon feed was
going through stock. What is going through stock a bit?
(03:02):
And yeah there's actually the other thing we were just
yelling about it before went on air that the worms
as well. I was meant to a feak week ount
reduction tests and some new lambs at weaning, and I
forgot about it and drenched everything. So I just had
some new lambs and yesterday and tested ten of them
for you know, to make sure the levels were high
enough to do a reduction test. And the vetraing and
(03:25):
said she'd done three samples and stopped doing any more
samples because the lowest was at two thousand. So there's
a lot of worms around and I reckon that'll be
holding some of the us back as well. So next
week's jobs running us through the yards and get some
lights off the bottom. And I hate drenching us, but
I might have to drink some of the light ones
just to give them a j just to give them a.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Chance, you know, So how often would you drink, you
using if you say you don't like drenching them.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I'd never like that. We are we hand for lights
and the odd light triplet might get a squirt before
lamming it at set stocking, you know, we might do
hundred and then this time, like the turist will probably
get a drench when they come in for their camp
in about three weeks time, because I reckon the campion
the top so I can knock them around and it's
(04:10):
a time when you know their worms can get on
top of them, so we'll probably give them a good
squirt then to set them up and they'll hopefully be
the last one for life. And like I say, just
the rest of and the US would usually get nothing,
but in a year like this where you know there
are a few lights, like we wind some pretty heavy lambs.
(04:31):
I think that the lambs sucked it all out of
the US and we were pretty dry and November and
the Seambult tight covers so that fields some weight off them.
You know, we're just need to do everything we can
to to put that weight back on them. So we'll
probably yeah, try him full of undrenched US and those
(04:53):
lights to loot the any resiltant worms that those US
might squirt out, but just try and do what we
can to keep production, guarantee some production for next year.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Is that the main reason for not drenching nice just
resistance reasons?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yeah, a long term it's a long term play. I
think I've used capsules once and I don't think I've
ever drenched every year on the farm, So yeah, it
is a resistance thing. Like we've done two or three
fecal equal week out reduction test since we've been home
and sort of just over ten years, and like our
(05:34):
resistance levels have been improving, if you know what I mean.
So the resistance has been dropping. So it'll be interesting
to see what this year is. One tells us. So
it must be must be sort of working. And you know,
like in an ideal world you breed to you, it
doesn't need it doesn't need drenched that can handle a
(05:55):
bit of you still produce put weight on this time
of year with the with the worm burden challenge. But yeah,
like you've got to be realistic as well. Some of
those used, like I say, if they're a bit light,
and you know these they're hoovering up a huge volume
of worm lave after lambs, and you know you can
(06:15):
use some stock its somewhere along the line. You've got
to put your ideological side of things to one side
and just do what's best for the animal. And every
now and then there is to give them a squirt.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So how often would you put the use through the
yards just to take the bottom twenty or fifty off
each time for example.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Trying to at least monthly this time year. And it's
also yeah, this time year sets your production for the
each year of body condition. So the more often you
get them through the yards, the more often you know
what's going on. There's always the odd poking lamb in
a maxim, so that's good plan to get them out
and keep an eye on body condition. I'm probably not
as good at weighing my use as what I probably
(06:54):
should be. You keep keep an eye out on their weight,
so I probably should do that every time there in
the yards. And yet yeah, just it's essentially it's a
body conditioned score. Every time they come in, you just
put your hand on if you like their shor and
so you can see them. It's really good. You just
whip the lights off the bottom. And usually if you're
doing it right, every time they come in, you should
(07:16):
be taking some lights back out of the light mob
and putting it with the fat mob. You shouldn't be
taking more skinnies out, if you know what I mean.
The main mob should be on the improved. So yeah,
it's just yes, it's important time you to keep an
eye what's going on with your with the most important
stock class, which is the breeding.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Us just finally know, I think we just got to
acknowledge the positives that are happening in the sect and
the rural sector at the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Ah, it's a fantastic year, and I reckon this is
going to be the season that we that we all
talk about until we're old men. Yeah, Like farmers live
and die on production, the weather and the prices we
receive for our produce, and everything's in our favor this year.
Obviously knowledging some of the guys around northern South and
(08:01):
about a tough year for moisture, but probably ninety eight
percent of the listeners out there have been having a
fantastic year with weather, obviously, product price as a record
and around here I know were we were pretty pretty
good tailing percentages, so the production was pretty sharp too,
So that's good. Yeah, Like that's I think I said
(08:22):
it mightest at last time. It makes it a whole
lot easy to get out of bed in the morning
when you know you're making financial headway as well as
physical headway.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Right. Absolutely, better leave it there, mate, You enjoy the
afternoon noise, appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Well, do you run, enjoy the sun. We'll catch you
next week.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Nigea word head in south of Targo, Anders. He talks
about the worm situation as well, So if you want
to go and test the girls. We're concerned about wearing
burdens of the life, well we've talked about it a lot.
Don't need any more better reason to do it when
the season's being like it's been. Andy Magnus is up next,
talking to the magnificent race that is happening around work
(09:00):
at the East, the Southland
This interview is brought to you by Agri Center South
branches in Lawnville, Gore, Cromwell, Milton, and Ranvilly. Drop by
your local Agri Center South brunch today.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Niger Woodhead Farmers in South Otago between bel Cluther and Milton.
Just head towards the hills for a webit and you'll
find this place somewhere in amongst the mix ga day nights.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
How are you andy?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Daylight? This you can't really Complain's.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
As good as one of those short sleeve shirt and
shorts from first thing in the morning when you walk
out the door day to day. It's been We've been
looking forward to them. It's been awesome.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, take the w's while you've got them. So ground
conditions there, hell, are you looking a good?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah? No, grand conditions are good. It was interesting we
made our whole crop silage last week and you know
the contract who comes from other clydeva away was sort
of saying, you know, it was amazing how much wetter
it was over here than than home. And then they
called a US today to pick up a trektor in
a right it was still sitting here and they said
the same thing, said either you're a lot greener than
(01:04):
than like's a cloud bar. It's a bit drier over there.
So yeah, we're still yeah, we've still got plenty of moisture.
There's there's no sign of drought here anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So like fake covers and that lambs are doing pretty
good or what else is going on in such?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, lambs, lambs are doing well. We killed four fifty
four sixty lambs off Cropperer in the week and they
killed pretty well to what was it turned and thirteen
dollars or something in their hands, so I'll take that.
And everything else is pretty much just sort of spread out,
got blocks and just shoffing them around. And they're blocks,
(01:41):
you know, like a few limbs have got or set
two five five paducks and they'll just go round and round,
and I'm just shoffing some works lambs a bit closer
to the yard this afternoon, then I'll I'll get drenched
in the morning and same thing. They've got three or
four paddicks and then they'll be in a week's time
they go to the next three four. Just keep them
(02:02):
rotating around and giving them plenty of space and feed
and water, and they seem to be doing well. Yeah,
so it's probably just use at the moment really just
trying to keep the US moving, put as much weight
on them as we can.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Trying to get there flashing before the boys go out.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah, we sure them do about ten days ago, and
then there was a cold week and I don't think
they liked it too much. I just reckon, they're a
bit lighter than where they should be. And they're definitely
too light there, a lot lighter than where we're a
lot of them to be for the rams. So trying
to put some trying to put some weight on them,
you know, not make them do any too much hard work.
(02:40):
If anything need if any panics need tidied up, we'll
just running behind them with the topper and and top it,
cut some thistles off and a bit of rent feed
and keep the US moving to try and put weight on.
So yeah, hopefully have a bit of warmth like this.
The feed all hard en up. I reckon feed was
going through stock. What is going through stock a bit?
(03:02):
And yeah there's actually the other thing we were just
yelling about it before went on air that the worms
as well. I was meant to a feak week ount
reduction tests and some new lambs at weaning, and I
forgot about it and drenched everything. So I just had
some new lambs and yesterday and tested ten of them
for you know, to make sure the levels were high
enough to do a reduction test. And the vetraing and
(03:25):
said she'd done three samples and stopped doing any more
samples because the lowest was at two thousand. So there's
a lot of worms around and I reckon that'll be
holding some of the us back as well. So next
week's jobs running us through the yards and get some
lights off the bottom. And I hate drenching us, but
I might have to drink some of the light ones
just to give them a j just to give them a.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Chance, you know, So how often would you drink, you
using if you say you don't like drenching them.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I'd never like that. We are we hand for lights
and the odd light triplet might get a squirt before
lamming it at set stocking, you know, we might do
hundred and then this time, like the turist will probably
get a drench when they come in for their camp
in about three weeks time, because I reckon the campion
the top so I can knock them around and it's
(04:10):
a time when you know their worms can get on
top of them, so we'll probably give them a good
squirt then to set them up and they'll hopefully be
the last one for life. And like I say, just
the rest of and the US would usually get nothing,
but in a year like this where you know there
are a few lights, like we wind some pretty heavy lambs.
(04:31):
I think that the lambs sucked it all out of
the US and we were pretty dry and November and
the Seambult tight covers so that fields some weight off them.
You know, we're just need to do everything we can
to to put that weight back on them. So we'll
probably yeah, try him full of undrenched US and those
(04:53):
lights to loot the any resiltant worms that those US
might squirt out, but just try and do what we
can to keep production, guarantee some production for next year.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Is that the main reason for not drenching nice just
resistance reasons?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yeah, a long term it's a long term play. I
think I've used capsules once and I don't think I've
ever drenched every year on the farm, So yeah, it
is a resistance thing. Like we've done two or three
fecal equal week out reduction test since we've been home
and sort of just over ten years, and like our
(05:34):
resistance levels have been improving, if you know what I mean.
So the resistance has been dropping. So it'll be interesting
to see what this year is. One tells us. So
it must be must be sort of working. And you know,
like in an ideal world you breed to you, it
doesn't need it doesn't need drenched that can handle a
(05:55):
bit of you still produce put weight on this time
of year with the with the worm burden challenge. But yeah,
like you've got to be realistic as well. Some of
those used, like I say, if they're a bit light,
and you know these they're hoovering up a huge volume
of worm lave after lambs, and you know you can
(06:15):
use some stock its somewhere along the line. You've got
to put your ideological side of things to one side
and just do what's best for the animal. And every
now and then there is to give them a squirt.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So how often would you put the use through the
yards just to take the bottom twenty or fifty off
each time for example.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Trying to at least monthly this time year. And it's
also yeah, this time year sets your production for the
each year of body condition. So the more often you
get them through the yards, the more often you know
what's going on. There's always the odd poking lamb in
a maxim, so that's good plan to get them out
and keep an eye on body condition. I'm probably not
as good at weighing my use as what I probably
(06:54):
should be. You keep keep an eye out on their weight,
so I probably should do that every time there in
the yards. And yet yeah, just it's essentially it's a
body conditioned score. Every time they come in, you just
put your hand on if you like their shor and
so you can see them. It's really good. You just
whip the lights off the bottom. And usually if you're
doing it right, every time they come in, you should
(07:16):
be taking some lights back out of the light mob
and putting it with the fat mob. You shouldn't be
taking more skinnies out, if you know what I mean.
The main mob should be on the improved. So yeah,
it's just yes, it's important time you to keep an
eye what's going on with your with the most important
stock class, which is the breeding.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Us just finally know, I think we just got to
acknowledge the positives that are happening in the sect and
the rural sector at the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Ah, it's a fantastic year, and I reckon this is
going to be the season that we that we all
talk about until we're old men. Yeah, Like farmers live
and die on production, the weather and the prices we
receive for our produce, and everything's in our favor this year.
Obviously knowledging some of the guys around northern South and
(08:01):
about a tough year for moisture, but probably ninety eight
percent of the listeners out there have been having a
fantastic year with weather, obviously, product price as a record
and around here I know were we were pretty pretty
good tailing percentages, so the production was pretty sharp too,
So that's good. Yeah, Like that's I think I said
(08:22):
it mightest at last time. It makes it a whole
lot easy to get out of bed in the morning
when you know you're making financial headway as well as
physical headway.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Right. Absolutely, better leave it there, mate, You enjoy the
afternoon noise, appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Well, do you run, enjoy the sun. We'll catch you
next week.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Nigea word head in south of Targo, Anders. He talks
about the worm situation as well, So if you want
to go and test the girls. We're concerned about wearing
burdens of the life, well we've talked about it a lot.
Don't need any more better reason to do it when
the season's being like it's been. Andy Magnus is up next,
talking to the magnificent race that is happening around work
(09:00):
at the East, the Southland
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