Head Shepherd

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 yo...

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 wate...

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...

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...

“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 broadcas...

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, wh...

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 Pro...

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,...

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...

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 statio...

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 Lan...

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...

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 outs...

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 pre...

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 t...

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...

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...

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 wh...

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 emb...

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 Sh...

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 va...

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 experience and passion for the sheep and livestock industry, having grown up on a stud sheep and beef farm in the Manawatu and earning her PhD in animal science. This episode is packed with practical knowledge and forward-thinking ideas for...

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 abundance in their lives. Hayley and her partner both grew up on a farm, and they started their own farm when they got married. They encountered financial difficulties early on and struggled for years to break through a financial ceiling. Throug...

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 breaks down the essentials of soil fertility, grazing management and the big impact of getting these right. Cam and Ferg chat about the benefits of grazing cereals, managing animal weight on stubble and the real cost of picture-perfect pastures....

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 Advisor at MSD Animal Health New Zealand,join Mark in a fantastic discussion about effective solutions for improving foot health in sheep. They dig into the issues of footrot and foot abscesses, covering effective diagnosis, management s...