Head Shepherd

A great 30 minute discussion with Professor Wayne Pitchford of Adelaide University covering hybrid vigour, how he changed his views on feed-use efficiency based on his research on feed intake and the science behind the biological function of ewe and cow efficiency. A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence  https://www.allflex.global/nz/ Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the...

Nigel and Kate Kerin own and operate Kerin Agriculture, which comprises a trading enterprise as well as a Merino ram-breeding operation. Their focus is on turning grass into profit, with a highly flexible system that can optimise the class and number of stock for each season.  In this episode, we cover the principles that Nigel uses to manage the businesses, and the importance of external influenc...

Willy Gallia is the part of the third generation in his family to be involved in the textile industry.  He grew up in Argentina and is very passionate about the wool industry and the people within it.  His family are heavily involved in wool production in Patagonia with Fuhrmann which is part of the Schneider group .  Willy is now the Chief Sustainability Officer with the Schneider group and is ba...

This week I had a conversation with Elisabeth van Delden that we are both sharing on our podcasts. Elisabeth provides support to wool businesses around the world to help them communicate effectively online.  Elisabeth was heavily involved in the Schneider Group's Wool Connect conference held earlier in the year. Check out Elisabeth's podcast - Wool Academy https://www.elisabethvandelden....

Ken Solly has a lifelong passion for helping farmers be the best version of themselves that they can be.  This podcast contains some great tips from Ken as he reflects on a successful career making very real differences to farming families.  This is one not to miss. A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence https://www.allflex.global/nz/ Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the...

One of the privileges of our roles in neXtgen Agri is the opportunity to learn from the experience of others. Alistair Campbell is a passionate sheep and cattle breeder, high country advocate and a genuinely fantastic person.  I've had the pleasure of many evenings chatting with Alistair and thought that the world would like to hear from him too.  We cover a range of topics around breeding sh...

This week we are delighted to have Jo Scott on the show. Jo grew up on a farm in Otago, South Island, NZ. She has recently finished up after 7 years working with the Zoetis genetics.  She has recently started a genetics consulting business and is very passionate about the opportunity to optimise genetic gain across the beef, sheep and dairy industries.  We discuss a range of opportunities in genet...

Welcome back to Head Shepherd. It is great to be back with Season 2. For the first episode of season 2 we have featured Will Gibson.  Will works with us here at neXtgen Agri as well as being heavily involved with his parents at Foulden Hill genetics.  In this episode Will covers his combined passions for breeding coloured Merinos, breeding Hereford cattle as well as helping the clients of neXtgen...

This is the third part of this series. What exactly do you want to produce? What are the traits that you most want to improve?  How do you decrease the error in selecting rams and bulls?  This episode takes you through the decision making steps and the available tools to help you get the best genetics for your farming enterprise.   https://www.nextgenagri.com/on-farm-consulting https://www.nextgen...

This week I am joined by Dr Alison Van Eenennaam, Cooperative Extension Specialist in Animal Genomics and Biotechnology with the University of California, Davis. Alison and her team have recently produced a gene edited calf that carries technology that could be applied to all terminal breeding lines at some point in the future.  We talk about the 5 year project to produce this one calf and we disc...

On this episode it is my pleasure to host Dr Jo Newton, Research Scientist with Agriculture Victoria.  Jo has recently been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her contribution to agriculture through her advocacy and support of young people, volunteering and contribution to dairy science.  In recent times she has also been named on the 2018 Australian Financial Review 100 Women of...

This week we bring you an interview with Tim Leeming.  Tim and Geogie Leeming run Paradoo Prime near Pigeon Ponds in South-west Victoria.  They run a composite maternal sheep and along with working hard to expand their business have been constantly innovating to improve their rate of lamb survival and have again recorded twin lamb survival over 90% this year.  Hear about the practices Tim and Geor...

In this episode I interview Russ Davis from who after serving in the armed forces returned to the sheep industry to find not that much had changed.  He has a keen interest in optimising reproduction in sheep production systems and understands the reproductive process as well as anyone.  We finish the interview hearing about his work in China and the projects that are focussed on alleviating povert...

In this episode we ask Geoff Lindon about the genetics portfolio at AWI.  We focus on the work completed on flystrike and worm resistance and discuss the Merino Lifetime Productivity project that is currently underway.  The genetics of flystrike is mainly completed but has the left the industry with some breeding values that can be applied to reduce the incidence of flystrike in Merino flocks.  It...

In this episode we interview Andrew Bouffler.  Andrew, his wife Mandi and their three children farm near Lockhart in Southern NSW. Around 13 years ago Andrew completed a Nuffield Scholarship. He reflects on what he learnt then and what he has learnt since as he continues on a life-long journey to continually improve his mixed farming enterprise and the sheep that he breeds.  He discusses the impor...

This week, Sarah Blumer leads us through some of the exciting research she is involved with at Murdoch University in Western Australia. Sarah shares the on-farm trials currently underway to help confirm 'best-bet' management guidelines for triplet-bearing ewes. She also explains the concept of whole-body energy and its importance in breeding a resilient sheep that optimises per-hectare p...

In this episode I talk to Dave Maslen who works at the New Zealand Merino Company. Dave works directly with many of the customers of NZM which are some of the worlds biggest brands.  Dave understands these brands and the consumers that drive them.  We discuss the then, the now and the future. Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited .  We help livestock farmers get the...

This is the second in our three part series called The heritability of hope. This episode focuses on the hope that in 10 years time we will still be able to farm the same way as we do now.  We discuss the need to consider what is likely to change in 10 years and what we should be doing now to start breeding the animals for the future. Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International L...

Andrew Bendall is a kiwi that is currently on a 2 year contract in the Falkland Islands.  He has spent his career in breeding, firstly in Romney sheep and Angus cattle, then to composites, then to ryegrass, then back to sheep and now in fine wool sheep. He shares how good people have shaped his career and what he has learnt along the journey. Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri Interna...

The first Head Shepherd podcast, this one is the first of a three part series titled The Heritability of Hope.  In this episode, Mark Ferguson discusses the importance of focussing on the consumer when deciding on breeding strategies on livestock farms. 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...