Head Shepherd

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

  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 spent his career working across beef, sheep, and even deer between Australia and New Zealand. He and Ferg chat about where genomics is taking us, why some of our current systems are holding things back, and what it might take to unlock faster progress in traits like feed efficiency and methane.Why genetics is still underused in livestock breeding How genomics is shifting from enhancement to substitutionThe science (and logic) behind feed efficiency and methaneWhat it takes to unlock genetic progress at a national levelHow genomics can impact commercial farmersHead Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected] to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

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• Why Structural Selection Drives Long-Term Profitability with Sharon Paterson

  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 chats with Ferg about her selection process and her very rigorous culling criteria for structure and litter size, which have led to a uniform and productive line of sheep.Ferg and Sharon discussHow structure improves stayabilityHow culling singles over the years has improved fertility.How improved survivability counteracts a lower scanning percentage The GDF9 geneHow selecting on structure can impact carcass traitsPaterson Park and GardensHead Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected] to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

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• Managing Farm Operations and Community Involvement with James Bruce

  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 the Maramora area. James shares his practical strategies for managing farmer mental health and well-being.James discusses his "ripple effect" philosophy of how one person's mood affects their entire team, whether in the farm yards or on the rugby field. He also reveals his tidy approach to balancing multiple commitments, the importance of celebrating small wins, and how mentoring young people has improved both his farming operation and community.Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected] to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

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

  Our guest this week is Louis De Jaeger, a landscape designer, author and filmmaker who believes that many of agriculture’s biggest problems start with poor soil. In this episode, he and Ferg explore soil as a living system. One that can reduce costs, improve resilience, and produce more nutrient-dense food when managed well.They talk about building long-term fertility without synthetic fertilisers, how some farmers are fighting drought and climate change, and the link between soil microbes and human gut health.If you’re curious about regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems or how farming can work better with nature, this one’s worth a listen.https://louisdj.com/en/home-2Head Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected] to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

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

  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 platform that reads samples using AI, returns results in minutes, and is helping farmers tackle drench resistance head-on.They cover the early days of FECPAK, how AI is speeding up diagnosis, what species ID could unlock for breeders, and why post-treatment testing matters more than ever.• Why drench resistance is no longer a “maybe” and what farmers can actually do about it.• How AI now reads worm egg counts in minutes.• The upcoming ability to identify worm species, making treatments far more targeted.• How egg count data is being used to track contamination, inform grazing plans, and map resistance across regions.https://fecpak.com/nzHead Shepherd is brought to you by neXtgen Agri International Limited. We help livestock farmers get the most out of the genetics they farm with. Get in touch with us if you would like to hear more about how we can help you do what you do best: [email protected] to our sponsors at MSD Animal Health and Allflex, and Heiniger Australia and New Zealand. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.Check out Heiniger's product range HERECheck out the MSD range HERECheck out Allflex products HERE

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