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Head Shepherd

Mark Ferguson
Livestock Management
Animal Health
Agriculture
Sheep Farming
Sheep Breeding
Genomics
Genetics
Worm Resistance
Animal Welfare
Australia
Wool Industry
Animal Health Management
Drench Resistance
Merino Sheep
Lambex
Agronomy
Artificial Insemination
Sustainability
Innovation
Grazing Management

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes293Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for Head Shepherd

Latest Episodes

Long before performance recording became mainstream, George Fell's grandfather was building a sheep breeding programme around growth, efficiency and measured performance on pasture. Unable to find the genetics he wanted, he created them himself.

Tod... more

YouTube

What does a cow actually cost to run?

At Kerin Ag, every kilogram of utilisable feed has a value attached to it. That allows Joe Kerin and the team to measure whether an animal is genuinely paying its way.

In this episode, Joe joins Mark to discuss... more

YouTube

Few people have had a front-row seat to the genetic improvement of New Zealand sheep quite like our guest this week, Simon Buckley.

After growing up in Whangārei and starting his farming career at Castlepoint Station, Simon joined Wairere Romneys an... more

YouTube

Most sheep producers assume their drenches are working. Chloe Frank's job is finding out whether they actually are.

After discovering how few producers in her region were monitoring worm burdens, Chloe launched Central Stock Health while still at un... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Joe Kerin
Owner of Kerin Agriculture (Wagyu seed stock and cattle trading)
Kerin Agriculture
Episode: Turning grass into money - this time with cattle, with Joe Kerin
Simon Buckley
Business manager at Wairere Romney breeding program
Wairere
Episode: Forty years at Wairere Romneys with Simon Buckley
Chloe Frank
Founder of Central Stock Health, parasitologist
Central Stock Health
Episode: Refugia, resistance testing, and the future of worm management with Chloe Frank
James Trowbridge
Guest, joined NeXtgen Agri
neXtgen Agri
Episode: Data driven sheep breeding with James Trowbridge
Dan Garrick
Guest from Helical, involved in data management and genetic evaluations
Helical
Episode: Genomic data management and the future of breeding values with Dan Garrick
Jane Kellock
Farmer in Farrell Flats; LambEx committee member
South Australia farming community; LambEx task force
Episode: Lessons learned from LambEx with Jane Kellock
Matt Hood
Agribusiness banker
Based in Marlborough, New Zealand (Blenheim)
Episode: How to run a farm business your bank trusts, with Matt Hood
Chad Taylor
Chad Taylor of Mumblebone Merinos
Mumblebone Merinos
Episode: Feet, finances and faster genetic gain with Chad Taylor from Mumblebone
Will Barton
From Gundagai Meat Processors
Gundagai Meat Processors
Episode: Turning lamb data into profit with Will Barton

Host

Mark Ferguson
Host of Head Shepherd

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 246 ratings
  • Review

    Thanks Mark, great show, always learn heaps. Cheers Steve

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    574636382
    New Zealanda year ago
  • My favourite podcast

    Love the guests, stories, technical insights and everyday tips on how to build and improve your farm business. I also love genetics!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dale @ Redbank FX Rams
    Australiaa year ago
  • Informative, relaxed and incredibly relevant

    In Scotland and find the head shepherd podcast offers speakers with a huge knowledge and covers incredibly relevant topics! It’s relaxed style makes for an excellent listen! Truly first class

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JaStephen
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Outstanding Agricultural Leader

    Mark Ferguson and his amazing podcast craft an inspiring ongoing story of the amazing people involved in food and fibre production.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fannytangles
    Australia3 years ago
  • Thank you!

    This podcast particularly those episodes geared towards sheep production (which are most) are so informative I can listen all day tending our flock. His interviews with experts and leading research in the field is fascinating and a blast to listen to! Thank you for all your work and spreading such crucial information!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shepherdess in New England
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Covers a broad spectrum from finance to genetics with strong relevance for producers.
High-quality experts; the tech and data angle is very helpful for decision making.
Relaxed yet informative style with deep industry knowledge.
Insightful guests and practical takeaways for farm economics and genetics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#36
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#76
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#168
New Zealand/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Refugia, resistance testing, and the future of worm management with Chloe Frank
Q: How does Chloe describe refugia and its role in managing drug resistance?
Refugia slows resistance by treating only those that need it and leaving a subset of the population untreated, which keeps susceptible worms in the population and dilutes resistant genes over time.
Refugia, resistance testing, and the future of worm management with Chloe Frank
Q: Why is independence important in her approach to parasitology services?
Independence eliminates potential conflicts of interest and helps build trust with clients, ensuring recommendations aren't biased by product sales.
Refugia, resistance testing, and the future of worm management with Chloe Frank
Q: What sparked Chloe to start Central Stock Health while still in her final semester?
She saw the challenge of drench resistance firsthand on family farms, learned the skills to do worm counts herself, and wanted to make parasite monitoring more accessible to busy farmers by going to them with a service.
Key tips for improving the reproductive performance of your beef herd with Dr Shane Thomson
Q: Is there any tips on preventing bull breakdown?
Yes, the approach includes ensuring bulls acclimatize properly before joining, managing body condition to keep them athletic, and organizing bulls into stable groups to prevent aggressive dynamics; overall, focusing on pre-existing vs acquired issues and having clear protocols.
Fat, fertility and the genetics of cow performance with Professor Wayne Pitchford
Q: How should producers balance selection for growth and reproductive traits when aiming for herd productivity?
Focus on direct fertility and condition-related breeding values (days to calving, body condition score) as they translate more reliably to herd stability and resilience, while still selecting for growth and meat quality to maintain productivity and economic returns.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Head Shepherd

What is Head Shepherd about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on livestock genetics, farming technology, and data-driven decision making for sheep and beef operations across Australia and New Zealand. Episodes frequently explore genomic tools, breeding values, precision management, and practical implementations of new tech in commercial farming. Guests include researchers, breeders, veterinarians, and industry leaders who share actionable insights on profitability, sustainability, and industry challenges such as input costs, market dynamics, and welfare considerations. A standout trait is the consistent emphasis on real-world adoption—pilot projects, on-farm demonstrations, and collaboration with breed societies and industry bodies—making it valuable for listeners seeking tangible... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Head Shepherd?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Head Shepherd:

1. Profitable Farmer
2. Humans of Agriculture
3. The AgriCoach Podcast by The Financial Bloke
4. The Yarn
5. Boots Off Log On!™

How many episodes of Head Shepherd are there?

Head Shepherd launched 6 years ago and published 293 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Head Shepherd?

Recent guests on Head Shepherd include:

1. Joe Kerin
2. Simon Buckley
3. Chloe Frank
4. James Trowbridge
5. Dan Garrick
6. Jane Kellock
7. Matt Hood
8. Chad Taylor

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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