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
Breeding for Success with Jamie Ramage
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. ...
The Humans of Agriculture with Oli Le Lievre
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.
Understanding the Path to Carbon Neutrality with Hayley Purbrick
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 pol...
Explaining Seasonal Breeding in Sheep with Emeritus Professor David Notter
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...
Introducing Phoebe Eckermann
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...
Efficient Ram Usage with Professor David Lindsay
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 Aust...
Corriedales and Progeny Testing with James Cusack
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 bef...
The 24 Hour Butcher Shop with Jacob Wolki
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...
Pallets and Pastures with Chris Meade
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 tragi...
Better Heifer Selection Decisions with Ella Holland of PBB
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...
Comparing New Zealand and Irish Sheep Genetics with Dr Noirin McHugh
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 Au...
Life Lessons with John McKillop
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 wh...
Genotype x Environment Interactions and More with Dr Sonja Dominik
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. H...
The "Sheep Poo" Study with Beef and Lamb NZ
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...
Breeding a Balanced Sheep with Alan Rissmann
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 ...
Genetic Control of Methane with Dr Nicola Lambe
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...
Successfully Navigating the Wool Industry with Nicola Peddie
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, N...
Lamb Survival with Dr Amy Lockwood
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 lam...
Unleashing the Potential of Grass with Michael Gooden
Maximising the potential of the grass you grow is a critical component of pasture-based agriculture; doing it well is what separates the good farmers from the great. In this episode of the Head Shepherd podcast, we discuss this and more w...
What's for Dinner? Exploring Food Production with Jill Griffiths
Are we aware of where our food comes from? What about the subtle complexities in our food production systems? Join us as we get a fresh perspective on this and more from Jill Griffiths, a science writer, journalist, and author. Her...
How to Correctly Vaccinate Your Livestock with MSD
Do you vaccinate your livestock correctly? Do you read the label every time? Is your fridge at the correct temperature to store the vaccine? Today we're discussing gold star vaccination protocol with Kim Kelly, a Veterinary Technical Advisor fr...
Embracing Digital Farming and Global Challenges with Robynne Anderson
Our guest this week, Robynne Anderson, is an authority on global agricultural and food policy. Robynne grew up on a farm and started her career in agricultural publishing. After selling her first business and taking a short break to contemplate...
Making Succession Flow with Pat Barrett
This week, we have our first lawyer on the show, Pat Barrett. He is both a lawyer and farmer in Wagga Wagga, Australia.Pat grew up with a passion for agriculture with friends and family involved in the industry and studied Agribusiness ...
Sheep in the US with Brad A. Freking
This week on the Head Shepherd podcast we’re heading back over to the US to speak to Brad A. Freking, a research geneticist in the Livestock Bio-Systems Research Unit, Clay Center in Nebraska. Originally, Brad grew up on a small mixed f...
Growing Cashmere in NZ with David Shaw
This week on the podcast we're switching up species and discussing cashmere goats with David Shaw.In 2017, David undertook a self-directed R&D project to see if he could ‘resurrect’ the cashmere industry. David found that New Zealan...
