Head Shepherd

How to run a farm business your bank trusts, with Matt Hood

03 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Hood on farm succession, agribusiness banking, and building better farm businesses.Based in Marlborough, Matt has worked across sheep and beef, d...

Feet, finances, and faster genetic gain with Chad Taylor from Mumblebone

26 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You'd never ignore your interest rate, so why aren't you tracking your genetic gain? This week, Ferg catches up with Chad Taylor for an upd...

Turning lamb data into profit with Will Barton

19 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Mark catches up with Will Barton from Gundagai Meat Processors (GMP) to chat about what has changed since his last appearance on the podcas...

What practical mental health support looks like in the shearing industry with Carol Mudford

12 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, Mark chats with Carol Mudford to talk about her unconventional path into the shearing sheds and the work she is now doing to...

Breeding seedstock for tough country at Hazeldean, with Bea Litchfield

05 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bea Litchfield is Managing Director of Hazeldean, a sixth-generation family seedstock business running both Merino and Angus studs alongside commercia...

Key tips to improving the reproductive performance of your beef herd with Dr Shane Thomson

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join Mark and our guest this week, Dr Shane Thomson, to discuss some key points around reproductive performance in cattle. Shane is a veterinarian an...

Fat, fertility and the genetics of cow performance with Professor Wayne Pitchford

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, Professor Wayne Pitchford joins Mark Ferguson to discuss all things cow condition. Wayne has spent more than three decades ...

Lifetime Ewe Management, leadership and the legacy that changed sheep farming, with Mark, Darren and Andrew [PODCASTHON]

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, Mark (Ferg) catches up with Andrew Kennedy (Ox) and Darren Gordon (Cat) to reflect on their early years together as well as ...

Using Genomics to Improve Heifer Selection in Commercial Beef Herds

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Choosing replacement heifers shapes the productivity of a breeding herd for years to come.This week on the Head Shepherd podcast, James Starling joins...

Understanding the wool industry pipeline with Shannon Donoghue

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, Shannon Donoghue joins us to talk about telling the story of wool and why she's so passionate about it. Growing up on ...

40 years of sheep selection lessons: worm resistance, longevity and performance with Allan Richardson

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you hate daggy sheep? Well, what started as a frustration with daggy sheep ended up reshaping this week's guest’s entire farming sy...

Ferg’s thoughts on the 25/26 ram sale season

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tune in this week on the Head Shepherd podcast to hear Ferg discuss the 2025/2026 ram sale period across Australia and New Zealand. He explains his ap...

Why you can't miss LambEx 2026 with Jamie Heinrich

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Are you heading to LambEx2026? This week on the podcast we have Lambex chair, Jamie Heinrich, on the podcast to discuss one of the sheep industry’s ...

Leading The New Zealand Merino Company into its next chapter with Angus Street

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest this week, Angus Street, has worked across journalism, global agricultural marketing, Asian supply chains and livestock trading before stepp...

Breeding Romneys for the rain at Kaituna Ridges

25 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you breed sheep that thrive in wet coastal hill country without routine drenching? What traits actually matter when you're selecting for c...

ian pod

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ian podHead Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm wit...

How innovation is changing the wool industry with Sam Wan

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up in Western Sydney with no connection to agriculture, Samantha Wan’s path into the wool industry was anything but typical.In this week&apo...

Practical Breeding Strategies for Commercial Cattle Producers with Carel Teseling

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How can commercial producers use breeding values without recording full pedigrees? This week, Mark chats with Carel Teseling, Chief Operating Officer ...

Ferg's thoughts on genetic gain

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ferg shares his thoughts on genetic gain in the sheep and beef industries. He has often said that we should be seeking to achieve a minimum of 2% gene...

Selecting for Worm Resistance in Low-Challenge Systems with Swabtec

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if measuring worm resistance didn't require high parasite burdens and ALSO delivered double the heritability of egg counts?Sarah Preston, Le...

Individual ewe performance and the future of sheep productivity with Tara Dwyer

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What limits ewe productivity in current sheep systems?Our guest this week, Tara Dwyer is breeding manager at Headwaters Genetics and a farm manager wi...

Results from the 'Genetics of foot health in Merinos' project with Gus Rose

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gus Rose shares the recent results from the 'Genetics of foot health in Merinos' project, which is looking at footrot and foot structure in ...

Proactive sheep management strategies with Tim Gole

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Tim Gole shares how sheep farmers can increase their profits by shifting from responding to problems to preventing them i...

How Do You Breed Short-Tailed Sheep? with Marnie Hodge

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do the genetics of tail length and the genetics of semen quality have in common? Not much, except that our guest, Marnie Hodge, Sheep Genetics Se...

Growing More Grass and Turning It Into Growth with Bevan Ravenhill

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How simple rotations and tight feed management lift whole farm performance.Mark chats with Bevan Ravenhill, WA General Manager for Lawson Angus  WA, ...

How to Start a Cattle Business with Summit Livestock

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered what it takes to build a succesfull seedstock buisness from the ground up? Well, this is the podcast for you. This week, Mark chats wit...

Financial skills for more profitable farming with David Egerton-Warburton

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Accounting may not be every farmer’s favourite topic, but it is one of the most powerful tools on the farm. This week’s Head Shepherd guest, David...

Trust and Farm Advice with Dr Ruth Nettle

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What makes farmers change? And what holds them back? Our guest this week, Dr Ruth Nettle, has spent 25 years studying just that. Ruth has spent her ca...

Understanding IMF, Shear Force and Marbling with Dr Peter McGilchrist

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Want to know more about meat-eating quality traits like IMF, shear force and marbling? Our guest this week, Dr Peter McGilchrist, is a leading meat sc...

neXtPredict: Breeding Values Made Easy for Commercial Sheep Producers

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wished you could get breeding values on your commercial Merinos without having to record weights, dates or pedigrees?This week, we’re launching...

Three sheep consultants walk into a podcast studio ...

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do you get when three sheep consultants, all podcast hosts, from Australia, England and Wales sit down in front of a microphone? You get a very e...

Fighting drench resistance with the DAGI app, with Ryan Luckman

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is drench resistance an issue on your property? Thanks to modern technology, we have tools at our disposal to help.This week's guest is Ryan Luck...

What does neXtgen Agri actually do? Mark Ferguson explains

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of you listen to the podcast every week, but we've come to realise many of you don't know exactly what we do here at neXtgen Agri....

On-Farm Micron Testing with Woven Optics

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest this week is Vicky Alexandrou, co-founder of Woven Optics.Over the past eight years, Vicky has helped design and build a handheld microscope...

Leadership in ag with Felicity Taylor

07 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does leadership look like in agriculture today? For Felicity Taylor, Area Manager for Rabobank in Moree and a 2025 Zanda McDonald Award finalist,...

Breeding better sheep at Moojepin Merinos with Hamish Thompson

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to keep a sheep business moving forward? For our guest this week, Hamish Thomson of Moojepin Merinos, it’s a mix of genetics, mana...

Using Drone Technology in Ag with SkyKelpie

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever considered using a drone on your farm? Well, this is the podcast for you. This week, our guest is Luke Chaplain, founder of SkyKelpie. Luke is on...

The past, present and future of sheep genomics in New Zealand with John McEwan

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to know about sheep genetics in New Zealand, our guest this week, John McEwan, is the person to ask. John has been involved with genomics ...

Breeding a multi-dimensional, modern merino at Willera with Simon Coutts

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you think of a 'modern merino', what comes to mind? For our guest this week, Willera Merino stud principal, Simon Coutts, it means a sh...

Inside Headwaters Genetics with Simon Saunders

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Simon Saunders is one of the original farmers behind Headwaters and runs the elite ewe flock at his farm, Stag Valley. In this episode, he discusses h...

What can US sheep farmers learn from New Zealand's success? With Dr Whit Stewart

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re chatting about the differences between US and NZ sheep production systems with Dr. Whit Stewart, an Associate Professor and Extensi...

Staff, Structure and Systems with Jack O’Connor

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re (belatedly) joined by Jack O’Connor, winner of the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award. Jack lives and works on the family’s fourth-genera...

The future of LAMBPLAN with Peta Bradley

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're back on the genetic evaluation theme with Peta Bradley, Operations Manager at Sheep Genetics, to talk all things sheep genetics and the exc...

Genetic Progress: Navigating trade-offs and opportunities with Jason Archer

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re joined by Jason Archer, Head of Genetics at Beef + Lamb NZ, to discuss the untapped potential of genomics in livestock.Jason has sp...

Why Structural Selection Drives Long-Term Profitability with Sharon Paterson

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ferg is chatting with Sharon Paterson from Waikaka Station in Southland, NZ. Sharon is very passionate about her flock of Texels and ...

Managing Farm Operations and Community Involvement with James Bruce

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, we're joined by James Bruce, a Wairarapa sheep and beef farmer running 6,000-7,000 stock units across hill country in t...

Why the Farmer is the Pharmacist of the Future with Louis De Jaeger

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest this week is Louis De Jaeger, a landscape designer, author and filmmaker who believes that many of agriculture’s biggest problems start wi...

How to improve your parasite management on-farm with Greg Mirams

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Ferg chats with Greg Mirams, founder of Techion/FECPAK. What started as a tool to do worm egg counts on-farm has evolved into a digital pla...

Footrot-free finewools at Stonyhurst with Charlie Douglas-Clifford

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we have Charlie from Stonyhurst on the show. Charlie and Ferg have worked together for a long time, both passionate about breeding healthy,...

How to stay calm in chaos with Prue Simson

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re joined by Prue Simson, who’s gone from managing the chaos of the Olympics and Formula One to running one of regional Australia’s...

The Art of Angus breeding at Taimate Angus with Paul Hickman

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're sticking with cattle for one more week, and this time we have Paul Hickman from Taimate Angus on the show.Taimate is one of New Zealand&apo...

Chris Earl on US Angus Operations, Live from the World Angus Forum

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're back with another podcast from the World Angus Forum. This time, we have Chris Earl from CK6 Consulting, sharing his insights on ranching, ...

Head Shepherd Live at the World Angus Forum

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Listen to the podcast live from the World Angus Forum. Ferg chats with Chuck Grove, retired American Angus Association President, to talk all things A...

Wool’s Role in Healthier Soil with Sherri Symons

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 opportun...

Future-Proofing the Family Farm with Ben Law

20 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Business of Farming with Nigel Kerin

13 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ap...

Improving Agriculture’s Future with Trust and Advocacy with Claire Taylor

06 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Engage, not educate.” That’s Claire Taylor’s mantra when it comes to shifting agriculture’s public perception.From a career in political jo...

Managing Clostridial Disease in Sheep and Cattle with MSD Animal Health

30 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast we have our sponsors, MSD Animal Health, discussing Clostridial diseases and proper vaccine protocols. Our guests, Felicity W...

BONUS EPISODE: Integrating Angoras with Merinos

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Strategies for Higher Conception Rates in Cattle with Dr Pedro Fontes

23 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

All you need to know about Toxoplasmosis with Connor Bury

16 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Head Shepherd podcast, we’re deep-diving into Toxoplasma Gondii with veterinary parasitologist Connor Bury. Connor walks us through...

From Sheep Contracting to Livestock Consulting with Amber Smith

09 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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-...

Bridging the Farm Ownership Gap with Sarah How

02 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Herding the Numbers and Driving Success with Jeremy Hutchings

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most farmers focus on production—but how many focus on profit? In this episode, Jeremy Hutchings explains how mastermind groups and business coachin...

Farming in the Ocean with Maegen Blom

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From dairy farming to mussels, Maegen Blom’s family took an unexpected turn into aquaculture—and she jumped right in. Now, as Operations Manager a...

Better Genetics, Not Better Grooming With Dr Mark Ferguson

09 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Building a Sustainable Red Meat Brand with Hamish Best

02 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Understanding Drench Resistance in Sheep with Dr Mark Ferguson

26 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Elite Sports Strategies for Elite Farming with Nick Martin

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 L...

From Passion to Progress in Sheep Farming with Andrew Glover

12 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 s...

The Pursuit of Excellence at Roseville Park

05 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Mark chats with Matthew Coddington of Roseville Park Merino Stud, one of Australia’s leading Merino studs. Spanning 4,400 hectares near D...

Head Shepherd LIVE 2024

29 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 be...

The Basics of Breeding Better Animals with Rudolph Linde

22 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ferg is joined by Rudolph Linde, the Business Manager of Genetic Services at Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), who shares his jou...

Breeding Better Sheep in the North Island with Dr Emma Pettigrew

15 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 w...

The Abundant Farmer: Mindset and Money in Agriculture with Hayley Grosser

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayley Grosser is a farmer and business coach based in Victoria, Australia, who helps farmers change their relationship with money so they can create ...

Managing Pastures for Long-Term Success with Cam Nicholson

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 experien...

Foot Health Fundamentals in Sheep with MSD Animal Health

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’re talking feet on this week's podcast! Guests Jim Walsh, Veterinary Technical Advisor at MSD Animal Health Australia, and Kim Kelly, Veteri...

How Genetics Shape Sheep Immunity with Dr Kelsey Bentley

17 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 h...

Ontario Sheep Farming: Insights from Dr Mark Ferguson

10 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 wit...

Strategic Farm Management with John Francis

03 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Francis, director of Agrista, an agricultural consultancy, discusses benchmarking, understanding optimum stocking rates, maximising pasture utili...

Changing the Game with Bec Malseed

27 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 fo...

Shaping Aussie Agriculture with Ben Simpson

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Simpson from OGA Creative Agency shares his passion for the varied landscape of Australian agriculture - focusing on storytelling, ethics, and inn...

Sheep, Salt and Beer with David Thompson of Moojepin Foods

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we have David Thompson of Moojepin Foods on the podcast. David talks about his career breeding trait-leading Merinos, how he is addressing s...

Future Trends in Lamb and Beef Markets: Expert Insights with Angus Gidley-Baird

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Angus Gidley-Baird, Senior Analyst - Animal Proteins at Rabobank, joins us this week to share his expertise on the sheep and beef industries across Au...

How Genetic Strategies Can Solve Farming Problems with Robert Peacock

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, we’re chatting all things livestock breeding with Robert Peacock from Orari Gorge Station. Robert discusses how and why th...

Boosting Heifer Performance with Enoch Bergman’s AI Insights

22 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest this week is veterinarian Enoch Bergman. Originally from the USA, Enoch arrived in Australia in 2003. He fell in love with the people, the l...

Our 200th Episode: Live from Lambex with Dawson Bradford

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast we’re celebrating 200 episodes! We thought we’d make a special occasion of it so we recorded our podcast live at Lambex 2...

Navigating Change in Farming with Bill Webb of Merinotech

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you farm Merinos in Australia, it’s more than likely you will have heard of Merinotech. And if you’ve heard of Merinotech, it's likely tha...

Managing Triple Drench Resistance in Cattle

01 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As you may have heard in the media recently, triple drench resistance in cattle is quickly becoming an issue for New Zealand farmers. This week on th...

The Future of Meat Grading with Barbara Webster

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest on the podcast this week is Barbara Webster, co-founder of inMR. Barbara shares with Mark how inMR's Marbl™ technology uses nuclear m...

Heat Stress: Impacts on Sheep Reproductive Performance with Dr William van Wettere

18 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast we’re discussing heat stress during mating and pregnancy with Dr William van Wettere.Heat stress is classed as anything ove...

Resilience and Building a Sustainable Farm Business with Danielle England

11 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Building resilience and achieving success in agriculture is an unpredictable challenge that involves continuous learning, upskilling, mentorship and a...

Detecting Pregnancy in Cows at Day 16 with Agscent

04 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How would you manage your cattle differently (or your sheep for that matter) if you could diagnose pregnancy at day 16? This week on the podcast, Mar...

Real-Time Livestock Monitoring with Bill Mitchell of Optiweigh

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast we have Bill Mitchell, co-founder of Optiweigh, discussing the Optiweigh system and its unexpected impacts on the farm busine...

The Benefits of EID in Commercial Sheep Farming with Richard Subtil

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast we have Richard Subtil, from Omarama Station, a 12,000-hectare property in New Zealand's South Island. Over the last 26 ...

The Science of Food with Dr Anneline Padayachee

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As food producers, should we know more about the nutrition of the products we produce? This week on the podcast we have Dr Anneline Padayachee, a food...

From Merinos to Marketplace Mogul with Dwain Duxson

07 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when a Merino sheep farmer turns into a digital marketplace mogul? Our guest this week, Dwain Duxson, founder of Farm Tender and The Farm...

Mastering the Trifecta: Sheep, Beef and Dairy Management with Matt Iremonger

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us this week and find out how Matt Iremonger manages multiple dairy, sheep and beef operations across 6,500 hectares in Canterbury, New Zealand. ...

Breeding Brahmans with Alf Collins of ALC Brahmans

23 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered what it takes to breed top-quality Brahmans? This week on the podcast we have Alf Collins, of ALC Brahmans, sharing how he and the team ...

Reducing Drench Usage in Sheep with Nick Cotter

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From direct organic lamb sales to a firewood business and developing algorithms for drench recommendations, the Cotter family pretty much do it all. T...