
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.
Episodes
229 episodes
Managing Clostridial Disease in Sheep and Cattle with MSD Animal Health
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 ...
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Season 2025
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Episode 226
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35:38

BONUS EPISODE: Integrating Angoras with Merinos
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.
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Season 2025
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Episode 225
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31:15

Strategies for Higher Conception Rates in Cattle with Dr Pedro Fontes
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), synchronisatio...
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Season 2025
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Episode 224
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51:12

All you need to know about Toxoplasmosis with Connor Bury
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 ...
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Season 2025
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Episode 223
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34:41

From Sheep Contracting to Livestock Consulting with Amber Smith
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 sh...
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Season 2025
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Episode 222
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18:45

Bridging the Farm Ownership Gap with Sarah How
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.
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Season 2025
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Episode 221
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31:03

Herding the Numbers and Driving Success with Jeremy Hutchings
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?D...
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Season 2025
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Episode 220
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36:15

Farming in the Ocean with Maegen Blom
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 unpr...
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Season 2025
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Episode 219
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26:16

Better Genetics, Not Better Grooming With Dr Mark Ferguson
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. ...
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Season 2025
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Episode 218
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17:50

Building a Sustainable Red Meat Brand with Hamish Best
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 ab...
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Season 2025
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Episode 217
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27:59

Understanding Drench Resistance in Sheep with Dr Mark Ferguson
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 strate...
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Season 2025
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Episode 216
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27:07

Elite Sports Strategies for Elite Farming with Nick Martin
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,...
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Season 2025
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Episode 215
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38:07

From Passion to Progress in Sheep Farming with Andrew Glover
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 m...
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Season 2025
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Episode 214
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25:29

The Pursuit of Excellence at Roseville Park
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 Matthe...
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Season 2025
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Episode 214
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1:07:50

Head Shepherd LIVE 2024
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 stron...
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Episode 213
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37:13

The Basics of Breeding Better Animals with Rudolph Linde
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 U...
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Season 2024
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Episode 213
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49:40

Breeding Better Sheep in the North Island with Dr Emma Pettigrew
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 she...
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Season 2024
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Episode 212
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22:15

The Abundant Farmer: Mindset and Money in Agriculture with Hayley Grosser
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...
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Season 2024
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Episode 211
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51:05

Managing Pastures for Long-Term Success with Cam Nicholson
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 ge...
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Season 2024
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Episode 210
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42:57

Foot Health Fundamentals in Sheep with MSD Animal Health
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 eff...
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Season 2024
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Episode 209
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54:21

How Genetics Shape Sheep Immunity with Dr Kelsey Bentley
What is actually occurring within a sheep with worm resistance? This week on the podcast we have a fascinating discussion with Dr Kelsey Bentley who has spent her career so far looking into the immune mechanisms of Katahdin sheep in the US. Kel...
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Season 2024
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Episode 208
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37:38

Ontario Sheep Farming: Insights from Dr Mark Ferguson
Sophie and Ferg catch up about Ferg’s recent trip to Ontario, Canada, where he visited 14 different sheep farming enterprises on his 10-day trip with Ontario Sheep Farmers. Highlights:- The differences in production systems, ...
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Season 2024
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Episode 207
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38:44

Strategic Farm Management with John Francis
John Francis, director of Agrista, an agricultural consultancy, discusses benchmarking, understanding optimum stocking rates, maximising pasture utilisation, feed efficiency and much more. ...
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Season 2024
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Episode 206
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49:05

Changing the Game with Bec Malseed
Bec Malseed, who manages AWI & RIST’s Lifetime Ewe Management course, in her spare time is a female central/field umpire in her local country footy regional league. It’s fair to say that she is trailblazing a path for other women and girls ...
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Season 2024
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Episode 205
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28:12

Shaping Aussie Agriculture with Ben Simpson
Ben Simpson from OGA Creative Agency shares his passion for the varied landscape of Australian agriculture - focusing on storytelling, ethics, and innovation. He discusses with Ferg how effective communication, AI and visual storytelling are sh...
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Season 2024
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Episode 204
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34:40
