Head Shepherd

The agricultural trading sector faces challenges with volatile prices and increased government regulations. Our guest this week, David Cornish, explains how strategic planning is crucial to position your business to successfully navigate these issues.  In the current environment, “We've seen businesses that were quite profitable or quite sustainable, even 12 months ago, now making a loss,” ex...

This week on the podcast, we’re discussing technology adoption and genetics with Dr Penny Schulz. Penny farms in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia (SA) with her husband Jason. She is a livestock technical specialist at the SA Drought Hub, as well as holding several other advisory positions.  “My role here with The (SA Drought) Hub is very much focused on farmer adoption,” Penny explain...

Are you passionate about breeding robust and resilient animals? If so, this is the podcast for you. Our guest this week is Dr Wendy Rauw, a renowned expert in animal genetics and breeding. Wendy's career has taken her to various corners of the world, working with a diverse range of species, from sheep and cattle to chickens and even fish. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the...

📢 Calling all sheep enthusiasts! This week's guest is Mark Mortimer, aka @sheepgeekCP on Twitter. Mark is both a sheep farmer and an innovator with an incredible mind for numbers and technology. Raised on a merino stud, Mark has been recording sheep data for as long as he can remember. One of his first 'inventions' was voice-to-text software so that he didn’t have to write down the...

Are you proactive when it comes to your livestock's health? This week on the podcast, we have vet and “animal agronomist”, Jillian Kelly, on the show talking about forward planning when it comes to livestock health and husbandry. After working as a practising vet around the world, Jillian decided she wanted to approach her job a little differently. She didn’t want to just help calve a cow, fo...

With extensive experience working with AgResearch, Abacus Bio, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, the New Zealand Medical Cannabis Council and (in her current role) as Genetics Programme Manager at Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), our guest this week, Dr Gemma Jenkins, has a passion for genetics. Gemma's primary focus at B+LNZ is genetic improvement in the beef industry via the Informing N...

In this week's podcast, discover how optimising soil health is your key to farming profitability. We're joined by Melinda Turner from Farm Nutrient Advisory, a specialist in the fields of animal science, soil and plant sciences. Melinda brings a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to this complex subject.  Melinda discusses some of the common challenges in nutrient management. It'...

Our guest this week needs little introduction. In this episode, Ferg catches up with Jamie Ramage, a passionate individual in the agricultural industry. Ferg and Jamie begin with one of their favourite topics: maternal efficiency.  From there, the conversation covers the evolving landscape of sheep breeding, especially the shift towards composite sheep. We also dive into the ProBreed programme and...

This week Mark is chatting to fellow podcaster, Oli Le Lievre. Raised in Sydney, Oli’s connection to agriculture was sparked by his family's farming roots in western Victoria, "I'm a city boy who fell in love with agriculture," he says.  Oli, in his own words, “attempted” university twice, which changed his trajectory in the industry. “I began to gain exposure to the agribusine...

This week on the podcast, Mark chats with Hayley Purbrick, a key figure at Tahbilk Winery, one of Victoria's oldest and most esteemed wineries. Hayley, a fifth-generation winemaker, has spent a decade transforming the winery's environmental policies, achieving an impressive feat of carbon neutrality. She is an advocate for understanding data, transforming it from a burden into a tool for...

Dr David Notter spent 25 years looking into the seasonality of breeding sheep and how to reduce it via genetic selection. We are very lucky to have him as a guest on the podcast today to share his wisdom on all things sheep breeding. In 1977, the American Sheep Industry Association identified a pressing challenge: reducing seasonality in ewe breeding. Virginia Tech became the base for this researc...

This week on the podcast, we introduce our newest team member at neXtgen Agri, Phoebe Eckermann.  Phoebe's journey into agriculture is anything but ordinary, from a city slicker in Adelaide to being captivated by livestock shows, to owning her first cattle, it's been non-stop. Her deep love for animals led her to carve her niche in the beef industry and embark on an adventure with a herd...

In this week's podcast, we're talking a whole lot about testicles! Our guest, Professor David Lindsay, shares his passion for the biology of reproduction and optimising ram usage on-farm.  David was at the University of Western Australia in the 1960s, a time when the region was experiencing significant land clearance. The Department of Agriculture recognised the need for a lecturer in th...

In today's episode, we have James Cusack, a fifth-generation farmer and Corriedale breeder hailing from south-west Victoria. While James grew up on a farm in Western Australia, he spent time completing a diesel mechanic apprenticeship before returning to farming in Victoria. James explains, "I was always told I had to do something else, so becoming a diesel mechanic was a practical skill...

This week on the podcast, our guest is Jacob Wolki, owner of Wolki Farms and a 24-hour contactless butcher shop. Initially, Jacob took over his father's hobby farm to provide his family with fresh eggs and beef, in a shift to a healthier lifestyle and better-quality food . "I've always been plagued with skin issues and respiratory allergies and stomach issues my whole life,” says Ja...

In this week's podcast our guest, Chris Meade, shows that anything is possible with a strong will and a clear vision.  Born and raised on a farm, his initial dream of becoming a veterinarian was set aside after his father died tragically and Chris ended up in the building industry. At the age of 23, Chris began what is now known as CMTP, a prominent name in the Australian packaging industry. ...

This week we have Ella Holland, National Territory Manager at PBB (Performance Beef Breeders), on the podcast to discuss how you can make better heifer selection decisions.   "PBB was established back in 1996 by Angus New Zealand and NZ Hereford. They saw a gap in the market and they wanted to create a company that would be a one-stop shop for the beef industry and provide them with all the s...

No matter what country you visit, each will always say that they produce the best sheep. But, up until recently, we didn't have a fair comparison of sheep genetics between countries. That's where Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority of Ireland, and our guest this week, Dr Noirin McHugh, come in.  Both Ireland and New Zealand have grass-based systems with an emphasis on...

Our guest this week is John McKillop, and this episode is an inspiring listen. John has had an incredible career leading agribusinesses around the globe. As Mark puts it, 'If there's a big name in ag that you haven't worked for, I'm not sure who they are.' From his beginnings on a family farm in western NSW to leading global corporations, John's journey in the agricul...

Our guest this week is Dr Sonja Dominik, a research scientist specialising in sustainability indicators at CSIRO in Armidale.  Sonja's career began with an undergraduate degree in Germany, majoring in animal breeding and genetics. Her passion for genetics led her to undertake research work in Australia, where she developed a deep appreciation for the country, its people and its livestock.  So...

This week on the podcast we have Cara Brosnahan from Beef and Lamb NZ (B+LNZ) discussing the latest research being done to gauge the prevalence and impact of facial eczema (FE) in New Zealand. As the global climate shifts, the disease is migrating further southward, causing new challenges for regions and livestock previously unaffected. B+LNZ are trying to understand the spread and severity of the...

Breeding a balanced sheep is no easy feat. But with a head for numbers and a great mindset, our guest this week, Alan Rissmann, is doing just that. With the business tagline 'We breed sheep to work for you, not make work for you', it's no surprise that Rissmerino breeds sheep for higher welfare traits and reduced workload. In his conversation with Mark, Alan dives into the 'why...

Tune in to hear Dr Nicola Lambe and Dr Mark Ferguson discuss sheep genetics, methane emissions and their intersection with climate change.  With an impressive 25-year career at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Nicola brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our listeners. From her beginnings as a poultry research assistant, Nicola is now a teacher and project manager at SRUC.  Throughou...

This week Nicola Peddie shares her insights into the wool industry, the power of sustainable innovation, and the potential for personal growth when you put your mind to it.  Born and raised on a sheep and beef farm in New Zealand, Nicola's passion for wool came from a black and coloured stud flock her mother ran. "From a young age, I used to prepare the wool with Mum and become naturally...

Lamb survival is always a hot topic, especially as producers increase their scanning percentages and improve their feeding practices, leading to more multiples. This week on the podcast we have Dr Amy Lockwood, whose research has focused on lamb survival - from paddock size to feed availability.  In this conversation with Dr Mark Ferguson, Amy shares the findings from her PhD research on mob size...