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
313 episodes
"There's no place I'd rather be" - Sheep and cattle breeding with Will Gibson
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 Hil...
The heritability of hope - part 3 of 3 - Farming with the perfect animals for you?
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 ma...
Gene edits in livestock with Alison Van Eenennaam
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 tec...
From the city to the cows with Jo Newton
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 suppor...
Tim Leeming and achieving industry leading lamb survival with precision lambing.
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 b...
Sheep reproduction - the path to prosperity with Russ Davis
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 understa...
Flies, worms and lifetime productivity with Geoff Lindon - AWI
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 o...
Fitness versus production and a journey of learning with Andrew Bouffler - Trigger Vale sheep studs
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 ...
Triplets, energy and everything in between with Sarah Blumer
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 trip...
The story of ZQ wool with Dave Maslen
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 dri...
The heritability of hope - part 2 of 3
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...
Breeding insights from Andrew Bendall
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 fi...
The heritability of hope - part 1 of 3
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 li...