Head Shepherd
247 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago -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.
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Episodes
How to Correctly Vaccinate Your Livestock with MSD
August 13, 2023 19:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBDo 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 from MSD Animal Health. Mark and Kim discuss the common pitfalls people often stumble into when administering vaccines. These range from improper storage to incorrect administration and dosage. Kim lends us her expertise in avoiding these errors and how...
How to Correctly Vaccinate Your Livestock With MSD
August 13, 2023 19:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBDo 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 from MSD Animal Health. Mark and Kim discuss the common pitfalls people often stumble into when administering vaccines. These range from improper storage to incorrect administration and dosage. Kim lends us her expertise in avoiding these errors and how...
Embracing Digital Farming and Global Challenges with Robynne Anderson
August 06, 2023 18:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBOur 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 her next move, she founded Emerging Ag Inc. Robynne realised there was a lot of talk about 'food security', but very little understanding of what it takes to grow, share, and distribute food. "Clearly, there was a gap between what we in the farming ...
Making Succession Flow with Pat Barrett
July 30, 2023 19:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBThis 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 and Law at the University of New England with the intention of using the degree in a management position. “I never thought I was going to be a lawyer,” says Pat. But, after an interview planned by his mother with a local lawyer, Pat found himself shaking han...
Making Succession Flow With Pat Barrett
July 30, 2023 19:00 - 46 minutes - 32.3 MBThis 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 and Law at the University of New England with the intention of using the degree in a management position. “I never thought I was going to be a lawyer,” says Pat. But, after an interview planned by his mother with a local lawyer, Pat found himself shaking han...
Sheep in the US With Brad A. Freking
July 23, 2023 19:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MBThis 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 farm. Brad's first connection to genetics came when he went to study at university, working on beef cattle efficiency. Brad then went on to work with pigs; since 2016, he has been devoted entirely to sheep research. Brad currently works in the Livestock Bio...
Sheep in the US with Brad A. Freking
July 23, 2023 19:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MBThis 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 farm. Brad's first connection to genetics came when he went to study at university, working on beef cattle efficiency. Brad then went on to work with pigs; since 2016, he has been devoted entirely to sheep research. Brad currently works in the Livestock Bio...
Growing Cashmere in NZ with David Shaw
July 16, 2023 18:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBThis 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 Zealand had some of the best cashmere fibre in the world. “We know our fibre is whiter and longer. Research indicates that the fibre from this part of the world is relatively softer. We have people wanting the fibre, we have a market, but we don’t have a supply.” So...
Driving Genetic Progress in Angus Cattle with Christian Duff
July 09, 2023 19:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MBIn this podcast, two genetics enthusiasts delve into IMF, methane, mature cow weight, immune competence and more, exploring the latest developments in livestock genetics and breeding strategies for Angus cattle. Yes that's right, we are heading back into the Angus world with Christian Duff, general manager of genetic improvement at Angus Australia. As Mark puts it, Christian is "involved in genetics in a fairly big way." He is very passionate about the power of quantitative genetics to c...
Breeding Cattle for a Hotter Future with Dr. Raluca Mateescu
July 02, 2023 18:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBHave you ever wondered why some cattle thrive better through an unusually hot summer? Our guest this week, Dr. Raluca Mateescu, Professor of Quantitative Genetics and Genomics at the University of Florida, has been focusing on the impact of heat and climate on beef production in the southern regions of North America. Raluca and her team have been looking into how to breed cattle to handle increasing temperatures, with a focus on improving productivity and achieving food security through ge...
Innovation in Angus with Lucinda Corrigan
June 25, 2023 19:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBThis week we're back chatting about Angus cattle with another great livestock producer with a passion for genetics. Born and raised on the family farm, Lucinda always knew she was going to be involved in the agricultural industry. After growing up on a merino sheep property, she gained a first class honours degree in Agricultural Science, followed by a formative time in the goat industry. Since the mid-1980s, she has been farming with husband Bryan, at one point with multiple livestock b...
Caffeine and Confinement: Lamb Survival and Reproduction with Dr. Susan Robertson
June 18, 2023 19:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBWelcome to the latest episode of the Head Shepherd podcast, where Ferg is chatting with Dr. Susan Robertson, a senior lecturer in ruminant production at Charles Sturt University. Susan has a wide range of research interests - from a PhD looking at staple strength in ewes, then delving more into pasture production, before transitioning into a full-time research role in 2016 with the EverGraze project (which aims to improve sheep reproduction). More recently, Susan has conducted a trial on ...
Maximising IMF in your Livestock with Charlotte Westwood
June 11, 2023 18:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBToday we discuss the bigger part of how you make money on the farm - how well you feed the animals. Nutrition of your livestock is one thing that you can get right, or wrong, on a daily basis; genetics is a longer burn. With nutrition, you can see the results almost immediately. To discuss this, our guest this week is Charlotte Westwood. Charlotte got her vet degree from Massey University and spent the first years of her career in the Waikato working mainly with dairy cattle. After a back i...
The genetics behind Angus cattle with Tom Gubbins
June 04, 2023 19:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBDo you want to develop your understanding of estimated breeding values (EBVs) in cattle? This week's podcast guest, Tom Gubbins, and our host Mark Ferguson chat about breeding values and Te Mania Angus, giving us a great insight into the role of genetics in a farm business. Te Mania started in New Zealand in 1928 with the closing of the Angus herd book. They have been involved in genetics from the very start, to which Tom credits some of Te Mania's success to. "We've watched, over a long t...
The Genetics Behind Angus Cattle with Tom Gubbins
June 04, 2023 19:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBDo you want to develop your understanding of estimated breeding values (EBVs) in cattle? This week's podcast guest, Tom Gubbins, and our host Mark Ferguson chat about breeding values and Te Mania Angus, giving us a great insight into the role of genetics in a farm business. Te Mania started in New Zealand in 1928 with the closing of the Angus herd book. They have been involved in genetics from the very start, to which Tom credits some of Te Mania's success to. "We've watched, over a long t...
Keys to a Successful Succession with Rick Morris
May 28, 2023 19:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBIn this podcast, we sit down with Rick, a seasoned farmer whose parents moved to his family farm in the 70s as a child, as part of the family's succession plan. Rick now runs a self-replacing composite flock, focusing on early maturity, fat, muscle, and health traits such as worm resistance. Rick also sheds light on his involvement in the Farm Owners Academy as an accountability coach and how he's creating a legacy that his daughter can carry on in the future. Rick lives on his family farm...
Keys to a successful succession with Rick Morris.
May 28, 2023 19:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBIn this podcast, we sit down with Rick, a seasoned farmer whose parents moved to his family farm in the 70s as a child, as part of the families succession plan. Rick now runs a self-replacing composite flock, focusing on early maturity, fat, muscle, and health traits such as worm resistance. Rick also sheds light on his involvement in the Farm Owners Academy as an accountability coach and how he's creating a legacy that his daughter can carry on in the future. Rick lives on his family farm...
Breeding for the Consumer at Cleardale with Ben Todhunter
May 21, 2023 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBThis week, our guest is Ben Todhunter from Cleardale Station in Canterbury NZ. Ben's grandfather purchased Cleardale in 1943 and is named after its geographical "snow shelter" attributes. Cleardale is only 4 km from Mount Hutt as the crow flies. Stud breeding is in Ben's genetics, with his great grandfather founding the Blackford stud in 1924. In Ben's time, they had a traditional first cross English Leicester/Merino flock. But, since Ferg has been around they've been doing things a "bit ...
Breeding for the Consumer at Cleardale with Ben Todhunter.
May 21, 2023 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBThis week, our guest is Ben Todhunter from Cleardale Station in Canterbury NZ. Ben's grandfather purchased Cleardale in 1943 and is named after its geographical "snow shelter" attributes. Cleardale is only 4 km from Mount Hutt as the crow flies. Stud breeding is in Ben's genetics, with his great grandfather founding the Blackford stud in 1924. In Ben's time, they had a traditional first cross English Leicester/Merino flock. But, since Ferg has been around they've been doing things a "bit ...
40 Years of Meat Trading with Richard Rains
May 14, 2023 19:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MBJoin us today for a chat through Richard Rains's career of 40 years of selling meat around the world. "It became a great passion and I still pinch myself every day at the success a little kid from the bush was able to achieve." Richard grew up in central NSW and was the youngest of four kids. When it was his turn to return to the farm, his father said to him, "Things aren't great. If you come home, it just means we've just got to split the meagre returns another way." explains Richard. "He...
Unlocking the Secrets of Farm Optimisation with John Young
May 07, 2023 19:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBAre you optimising your farm's production? Today we have John Young, aka Youngy, on the podcast. There are so many ways to optimise your farming business and sometimes that can be overwhelming. John, however, makes it all sound very understandable and achievable. John's background is in farming but he now runs a systems analysis service. Farm Systems Analysis Service has been involved in the development of AFO (Australian Farm Optimisation model). John gives us a rundown of what AFO is. "...
Integrated pest management on your farm with Alison Colvin
April 30, 2023 18:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBIntegrated pest management for blowfly, worms and lice is the topic of todays podcast, with our guest Alison Colvin. Alison has published work on practices on farm and has also been involved in a lot of survey work. You can find more here Alison runs us through the surveys, which had some interesting results about incidences of flystrike, treatment trends and the effects of drought on lice, fly and worm problems and much more. You can read the results for yourself here: The Australian ...
An insight into sheep research in New Zealand with Paul Kenyon
April 23, 2023 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22 MBOne of the main topics of today’s podcast is the financial modelling of transitioning to a shedding flock from a Romney our guest, Prof. Paul Kenyon of Massey University, has been involved with. Mark asks what instigated the work and what does the modelling show? "In reality, coarse wool is costing more to get it off. Many farmers spend their whole summer shearing, crutching, dagging, dipping... controlling fly. As we move forward in the modern society it's harder and harder to get labour i...
Innovative lamb processing with Gundagai Meat Processors
April 16, 2023 19:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBAs producers, you're always wanting to get the most for your hard earned produce and it always helps when your processor wants that for you, too. Located mid-way between Sydney and Melbourne, Gundagai Meat Processors (GMP) is one of the most innovative lamb processors in Australia. GMP became a household name within the industry as they were the first to offer premiums for IMF. This week we have Will Barton, CEO of GMP on the podcast. We start off strong diving straight into why GMP decid...
Connecting the dots of science, people and money with Kate Burke
April 09, 2023 19:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MBEvery day, we make hundreds of decisions. These decisions affect you, your business and those around you. This week we have Kate Burke on the podcast talking about how to make the right decisions. With 26 years of experience behind her, Kate has a huge range of expertise in the Agriculture industry. Kates principles come from her experience in the industry as an agronomist, an educator, researcher, writer and also growing up as part of a multigenerational farming business. "My mantra at ...
The latest and greatest in meat quality technology with Graham Gardner
April 02, 2023 19:00 - 43 minutes - 29.7 MBThis week we have an old supervisor of Marks, Graham Gardener as our guest. Graham has been involved in a huge multi species project (ALMTECH) focusing on measuring lean meat yield and eating quality for the past 7 years. You can find out more about it here: https://www.almtechau.com/ Mark and Graham start off with the work ALMTECH have been doing on live animal measurements in terms of lean meat yield. "In beef, the most advanced one we started with was a 3D imaging system. The camera...
The future of wool harvesting with Jock Laurie of AWI
March 26, 2023 17:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBBio shearing, wool harvesting practices and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) research is the topic of this week's podcast. We have Jock Laurie, chair of AWI chatting with Mark today. Jock currently farms wool, lamb, beef and grain on properties in New South Wales. In 2021 Jock became chair of AWI. Jock runs us through what AWI does, and what they're currently looking into it. AWI, for those that don't know, is responsible for research and development for the Wool Industry in Australia. T...
Maintaining genetic diversity and resilience around the world with Dr. Roswitha Baumung
March 19, 2023 18:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBToday on the podcast we have a different kind of guest! We have the incredible Dr. Roswitha Baumung who currently works at the Division for Animal Production and Health of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Roswitha has always had a passion for animals. She studied Agriculture and completing her pHD on Animal breeding and genetics. "I was especially interested in the genetics of small populations". After a scientific career at University, she began a helpin...
An insight into Irish Sheep Farming with Tim Keady
March 12, 2023 18:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBIt is always interesting to compare different farming systems across this world. This week on the podcast we have Dr Tim Keady speaking about farming in Ireland. Having recently returned from a trip to New Zealand, Tim has a great insight at how the different systems compare. "We went to see the use of different technologies on-farm, with the intention of reducing labour and improving efficiency. So, we decided to go to New Zealand" says Tim. "... to look at the systems of sheep reproductio...
Building your livestock cash flow with Richard Brimblecombe
March 05, 2023 17:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBIf you can optimise your stocking rate for your season, there's no reason you can't make profit in livestock. However, accessing capital for trading and breeding stock, isn't always easy and can hold a producer back. That's where Richard Brimblecombe and Legacy Livestock come in. Richard is a "Queenslander through and through" who always had a hankering for numbers. After a career in banking, Richard became one of the founding CEOs of stockco's Australian business. In 2019 he joined the No...
Building livestock cash flow with Richard Brimblecombe
March 05, 2023 17:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBIf you can optimise your stocking rate for your season, there's no reason you can't make profit in livestock. However, accessing capital for trading and breeding stock, isn't always easy and can hold a producer back. That's where Richard Brimblecombe and Legacy Livestock come in. Richard is a "Queenslander through and through" who always had a hankering for numbers. After a career in banking, Richard became one of the founding CEOs of stockco's Australian business. In 2019 he joined the No...
Managing drench resistance in sheep with Ginny Dodunski
February 26, 2023 17:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBWant to know more about sheep parasites? This week we have Ginny Dodunski on the podcast chatting everything from drenches and capsules, to resistance and refugia. This podcast is full of handy helpful tips which will hopefully make you take a step back and look at your worm management program on farm. In the last 12 month Ginny has been the Wormwise program manager but prior to that Ginny was (and still is) a practicing large animal vet. Wormwise was launched as an initiative to help f...
Managing Drench Resistance in Sheep With Ginny Dodunski
February 26, 2023 17:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBWant to know more about sheep parasites? This week we have Ginny Dodunski on the podcast chatting about everything from drenches and capsules, to resistance and refugia. This podcast is full of handy, helpful tips, which will hopefully make you take a step back and look at your worm management programme on farm. In the last 12 months, Ginny has been the Wormwise programme manager but, prior to that, Ginny was (and still is) a practising large animal vet. Wormwise was launched as an init...
Current market trends with @Meat_Watcher - Matt Dalgleish
February 19, 2023 17:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBThis week we are discussing markets and were lucky to secure some time with Matt Dalgleish to talk through the current markets and current trends. Matt has a wealth of experience in livestock markets. Matt works with Andrew Whitelaw and together they have founded Episode 3 to provide market analytics. You can find out more about their work at Episode 3 They began working together in commodity market analysis in 2016 at an agriculture analysis firm owned and operated by Ruralco, a listed...
Innovation is coming to livestock farming - will it make you or break you? Ferg's thoughts
February 12, 2023 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBThis week we bring you Ferg's thoughts on innovation and particularly the role Artificial Intelligence will play in livestock farming in the future. The uptake of innovations in livestock breeding in the last 20 years is about to go into over drive and we are on the cusp of big changes in how sheep breeding happens across the industry. There will be two options for those breeders out there - adapt or be disrupted. Some of the concepts in this podcast are borrowed from Christian Kromme, ...
Three years into transitioning to a finer wool genotype. With Mark Wragg.
February 05, 2023 18:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBMark Wragg transitioned from Romney ewes to a finer wool cross three years ago. Today he chats to Mark Ferguson about that process and also about the introduction of a White Suffolk stud to their business. After attending a NZM workshop a few years ago Cheviot, which Mark Ferguson spoke at, Mark Wragg decided to make the jump into transitioning to finer wool genotype. "A long time ago they tried merinos but the feet just fell apart. We have heavy clay downs and it stays wet all winter. ...
Feed efficiency and behaviours in sheep with Tricia Johnson
January 22, 2023 18:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBThis week on the Head Shepherd podcast we have another senior scientist of AgResearch, Tricia Johnson. Following on from our podcast with Dr Suzanne Rowe on "Genetic selection for lower methane in ruminants", we invited Tricia on to focus on her research in one of Marks favourite topics, feed efficiency and body composition. Tricia has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to sheep phenotypes and genetics; from muscling and meat quality traits to Facial Eczema . Mark starts off this epic...
Building a successful farm business with Prue Bondfield.
January 15, 2023 17:00 - 40 minutes - 28 MBThis week on the podcast we have the wonderful Prue Bondfield. Prue didn't have a traditional pathway into agriculture. "In terms of the beef industry my association there started when I got married to my husband who owned a Charolais stud. I was a lawyer in Brisbane, Queensland." Says Prue. "It was really city meets country in the best way". From the time David and Prue purchased 50 cows from her Father in law, the stud went from strength to strength. "We ran the Palgrove seedstock herd...
Genetic selection for lower methane in ruminants with Dr Suzanne Rowe
January 08, 2023 18:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBThis week we have a fantastic podcast for you discussing a very hot topic, Methane emissions in ruminants. We have Dr Suzanne Rowe, Senior Scientist at AgResearch talking about the history of recording methane in sheep, what the industry is currently doing towards reducing methane emissions and where the future of methane in sheep is heading. Dr Rowe was born and raised in the UK, studied Agriculture and has a PhD in Quantitative Genetics. She then moved to NZ "..where we've got the great...
Fergs thoughts: New Year Special
January 01, 2023 18:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBThis week we have another in our "Fergs Thoughts" series. Seeing as it's the start of a New Year, Mark chats about what we can achieve in the future. "How can we set ourselves up for success in 2023?" Mark asks "We always think back to that 30 years, depending on where you are in your farming cycle. That '30' being the number of times you get to select a bull or ram tea to go out." "So roughly we get those 30 opportunities to keep the females we keep and the males we either buy or keep...
Ferg's thoughts: New Year Special
January 01, 2023 18:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBThis week we have another episode in our "Ferg's Thoughts" series. Seeing as it's the start of a new year, Mark chats about what we can achieve in the future. "How can we set ourselves up for success in 2023?" Mark asks "We always think back to that 30 years, depending on where you are in your farming cycle. That '30' being the number of times you get to select a bull or ram tea to go out." "So roughly we get those 30 opportunities to keep the females we keep and the males we either bu...
Implementing a genomics program in a stud context with James Lines
December 25, 2022 18:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBThis week on the Head Shepherd podcast we have our freshest recruit, James Lines. After only 9 days on the job, Mark got James onto the head shepherd podcast to talk about his upbringing and what lead to him applying for a job at a genetics consultancy firm. James grew up on a mixed farming enterprise, which also had the Gum Hills Merinos stud and south Devon cattle. After a 'gap year' working on the home farm and jackarooing, James studied Ag Science at Adelaide University. He's spent his...
The story of the incredible Elizabeth Macarthur with Michelle Scott Tucker
December 18, 2022 18:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBThis week on the Head Shepherd podcast, we're changing gears a little and chatting with author Michelle Scott Tucker. Having an audience of mostly sheep tragics, Mark thought the parallels between Michelles book, Elizabeth Macarthur: a life at the edge of the world; and our listeners was too good not to make the most of. Michelle tells us more about the wonderful Elizabeth Macarthur and the foundations of the Merino wool industry of Australia. Elizabeths story begins in on a farm in Nor...
Understanding problems in Ag with Sarah Adams
December 11, 2022 17:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBThis week on the Head Shepherd podcast we have Sarah talking about genetics, technology and solving problems in the Agricultural industry. Sarah is currently Global Strategy and New Ventures Manager at Gallagher and also breeds Polled Dorsets in the Waikato, NZ. Sarah grew up on a farm with a father who was a ram breeder. "I have always been around stud sheep," says Sarah After spending some time after university as an Agricultural journalist, Sarah returned to genetics and started workin...
Success with sexed semen with Professor Simon de Graaf
December 04, 2022 18:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBThis week on the Head Shepherd podcast we have Professor Simon de Graaf, a fellow podcaster and a world expert in sheep reproduction, sperm sexing and AI. Simon is currently a Professor of Animal Reproduction at The University of Sydney, where he says 90% of the work he does now is sheep "But my background is such that we've dealt with a lot of different species." Simons work in reproduction began during his PhD where he studied sexed semen. Mark asks for a run through of the process of s...
The benefits of supply chain security with Jason Strong
November 27, 2022 18:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBThis week on the Head Shepherd podcast we have Jason Strong, Managing Director of Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd. (MLA) Jason grew up on a farm and says "I can never remember not wanting to be a cow farmer." He says that winning a scholarship to the University of Illinois in his late teens was "transformative" in his career. "The most important thing was learning about meat grading and meat science. I got really excited about being a meat grader and came home [...] and realised we didn't ...
The key to lamb survival with Cathy Dwyer
November 20, 2022 17:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBThis week on the Head Shepherd Podcast, we head over to Europe to chat with Cathy Dwyer. Cathy is based in Edinburgh and splits her time between two roles. One at Scotlands Rural College, leading a team of researchers in Animal Welfare and Behaviour and the other at the Royal School of Veterinary Studies where they have a centre for Animal Welfare Education of which Cathy is a Director. We invited Cathy onto the podcast because of her research into the maternal bond and maternal behaviour...
Sub-Clover and beyond with Charlie de Fegely
November 13, 2022 17:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBThis week on the Head Shepherd podcast we have Charlie de Fegely chatting about things all things sub clover and beyond. Charlie farms in Western Victoria in the foothills of The Grampians. They average around 550mm of rainfall per year and are in a predominantly cropping area but they have chosen to be all stock because of their heavy clay soils. Charlie and his family will be mating 10,000 ewes this year. Last year he mated 8,300 and marked 12,000 lambs. Figures to be very happy with. ...
Bonus Episode. Head Shepherd Premium
November 06, 2022 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBThis week, to tide you over between seasons, we've released two of our Head Shepherd Premium podcasts for you. Mark recently uploaded a series on different traits that might be important for our clients. In the "Breeding Series", Mark covers many traits. From staple length, to growth to muscling. We've decided to share CVoFD and Fat with you today. CVoFD might seem like an unusual one but as Mark says, "It's quite cool as its correlated with lots of things." They are both linked to whol...
Season 8 Q&A with Dr Mark Ferguson
October 31, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBWe've reached the end of season 8 and we've got a great Q&A podcast for you. We have questions from “What's your opinion on Australia’s LEQ index compared to focusing solely on IMF and shear force figures if your number one breeding objective is to increase eating quality?” to "Is there any correlation between worm burdens/high genetic WEC and dermatitis/wool rot?" Mark also covers breeding for footrot resistance in crossbred (non-merino) sheep and how the industry can go about improving ...