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, Nick shares practical tools like self-talk, visualisation, and box breathing to help sharpen focus and navigate high-pressure situations.

The conversation highlights what sets top performers apart, with a focus on mindset, self-awareness, and goal setting. It’s a fascinating look at how small changes can drive big results both on the farm and on the pitch!

You can read Nick's full report below:

https://ruralleaders.co.nz/the-performance-psychology-of-elite-canterbury-sheep-and-beef-farmers/

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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. Started his career straight out of school wool classing and is now station manager at one of Australia’s largest and most innovative sheep studs, Pooginook. Andrew’s passion for the job has only grown, as has his understanding of what makes farming work. He knows that success comes down to investing in the right places—genetics, infrastructure, and people.

Andrew has some great advice for those wanting to begin a career in ag. He says that leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about action. He values hands-on experience, seeing it as the foundation of a solid farming operation.

Andrew has a true passion for sheep farming and his story is proof that a clear vision and a relentless focus on improvement can keep you, and the industry, moving forward.

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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 Matthew’s family.

Matthew shares insights into the evolution of sheep breeding, from traditional practices to advanced technologies like genomic profiling and embryo transfer. He highlights the importance of long-term breeding goals, diversification, and creating a culture of learning within the industry.

The podcast also touches on strategic cattle trading, pasture management using drones, and navigating challenges like droughts.

Packed with practical insights, this episode offers a glimpse into the future of sheep farming and the relentless pursuit of excellence at Roseville Park.

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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 strongwool sheep
- Should you be breeding your own rams?
- Testing for efficiency in confinement
- Grazing behaviour of sheep

Thanks to everyone who tuned in to Head Shepherd in 2024

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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 UK, and now Australia. With a strong passion for animal science and genetics, Rudolph delves into the principles of genetic improvement, the importance of variation, and how Australia’s leading genetic databases are driving innovation in livestock production. He also explores advancements in reproductive technologies, such as IVF and sexed semen, and their role in improving animal welfare and sustainability, stressing the need to make genetic tools accessible to all producers, from early adopters to newcomers. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the future of livestock genetics and its impact on agriculture.

• How the breeder's equation underpins genetic improvement across all livestock species.
• The critical role of Australia’s unparalleled genetic databases in driving innovation.
• The exciting potential of reproductive technologies for productivity and welfare.
• Making advanced genetics practical and accessible for producers of all levels.

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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 sheep and beef farm in the Manawatu and earning her PhD in animal science.

This episode is packed with practical knowledge and forward-thinking ideas for farmers wanting to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world. Tune in to hear how Emma plans to make an impact in her new role and what’s on the horizon for sheep farming in the North Island

• Insights on genetic selection and shedding sheep.
• Challenges and opportunities for NZ sheep farmers.
• Emma’s plans to drive innovation in the North Island.

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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 their own farm when they got married. They encountered financial difficulties early on and struggled for years to break through a financial ceiling. Through research, mentors, and coaches, Grosser realised that it was their mindset about money that was holding them back, and as they learned to think about money differently, their financial situation dramatically improved. Now, Grosser teaches other farmers how to retune their mindsets to wealth and abundance, so they can experience the same kind of transformation.

• Shifting to an abundant mindset can unlock financial success. When you believe in the infinite nature of money, you are more likely to see opportunities that can lead to positive financial outcomes.
  
  
  
• An important aspect of achieving an abundant mindset is changing your language about money. When you reframe negative money beliefs into more positive affirmations, your mind is more likely to look for evidence that supports abundance, leading to new opportunities.
  
  
  
• Viewing your time and money as investments can help you prioritise activities that yield the greatest return. Recognising that working harder isn't always the answer can lead to more efficient and profitable operations.
  
  
  
• Surrounding yourself with like-minded people and seeking mentorship can be invaluable. Learning from individuals who have successfully implemented abundant mindsets in their own lives can accelerate your progress and provide support.
  
  

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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 getting these right. Cam and Ferg chat about the benefits of grazing cereals, managing animal weight on stubble and the real cost of picture-perfect pastures. Tune in for practical tips on balancing perennials and annuals, matching species to the environment and using tools like Pasture Picker to boost productivity.

- Tips on grazing cereals and animal weight management on stubbles.
- How to balance lush pastures with a solid bank balance.
- Matching species to the environment for better pasture persistence.
- Practical tools and resources for evaluating and managing pasture options.

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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 effective solutions for improving foot health in sheep.

They dig into the issues of footrot and foot abscesses, covering effective diagnosis, management strategies, information on the Footvax® vaccine and the impactful role of genetics in strengthening sheep resilience to foot-health challenges.

Tune in to hear about:

• Effective strategies for managing foot health in sheep, including solutions for footrot and foot abscesses.
• The role of genetics in improving sheep resilience to foot-related health issues.
• Practical tips on footbathing, vaccination and biosecurity.
• How to effectively use Footvax® vaccine.
• Proactive approaches to improve flock health and productivity.

Thanks to our sponsors, Allflex/MSD Animal Health, for joining us to chat about such an important topic for sheep producers. 

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE

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. Kelsey runs us through what happens biologically within the sheep to make it ‘resistant’. She has also researched the importance of the role of colostrum in lamb immunity. Kelsey explains how it provides essential immunological benefits - particularly through IgG and IgA antibodies - and that colostrum quality varies between sheep and therefore is under genetic influence. 

Highlights:
- The make-up of the Katahdin breed
- The biology of parasite resistance
- The genetics of parasite resistance
- The effect of worm resistance on other traits like growth
- The importance of good quality colostrum 
- Behavioral responses to illnesses

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].

Thanks 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 HERE
Check out the MSD range HERE
Check out Allflex products HERE