Head Shepherd

Welcome back to the 50th episode of Head Shepherd! This week we hosted a live Q&A where Mark answered your questions. This is a recording of that live stream.

Mark answers questions about the polled gene and the variations that exist there, about breeding for lamb growth without ending up with excess adult weight and more.

Thank you to everyone who has listened so far, we have thoroughly enjoyed producing the past 50 episodes for you and can't wait to bring you the next 50.

We will be taking a week off, and will be back on the 27th of September.


Check out The Hub below
thehub.nextgenagri.com

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
www.allflex.global/nz/

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

This week Mark chats with Dr Leo Cummins of Byaduk North, Aus.

With the world favouring environmental efficiency, why is it that we don't breed cattle to have twins? Mark and Leo go through the ins and outs of Beef Twinners, a composite from Nebraska that Leo has been working with for the past 17 years.

During Leos research career, he investigated high fecundity beef and sheep livestock systems including Booroola sheep. During this time he became aware of a twinning herd in Nebraska ran by the Meat Animal Research Center (MARC), which had a 50% twinning rate in cows. The first imported embryos were implanted into cows in 2004, and the progeny are now producing twin calves at a rate of about 50 per cent.

Beef twinners are a composite line of cattle developed at the U.S. MARC. This project started in 1981 by selecting cattle based on their ability to produce twins. This was based on selection on both twinning history and recorded ovulation rates over several cycles in heifers. Bulls were selected which had high predicted breeding values for twinning, based on their daughters having twins and high ovulation rates.

Have a listen to hear how these cattle are being run in Australia and the improvements Leo is making to the herd. He has some impressive figures of weaning weights and sale prices that makes you wonder why we aim for only one calf, considering the environmental outlook of the world currently.

If you would like to know more, visit their website here
https://www.twinnercattle.com

Check out The Hub below
thehub.nextgenagri.com

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
www.allflex.global/nz/

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

Black Box Co is the brain child of Shannon Speight and Emma Black who both have backgrounds in the beef industry and have both won the Zanda McDonald award.

After seeing how little data was utilised at all levels in the industry, Shannon was inspired to find a way to capture and standardise the data that potentially existed all along the value chain. She met Emmathrough the Zanda McDonald award, Emma shared her passion and frustrations around data and convinced her to join her on the Black Box Co journey.

Roll forward a few years, and Black Box Co has just registered their millionth animal on the database and have a 10 people team- they also have their sights on the sheep industry!

Mark, Emma and Shannon discuss what Black Box Co is, and the potential in the industry. With such scale in Northern Australia, incremental differences really make a difference to the dollar at the other end.

It is truly inspiring to hear the enthusiasm both women have for genetics and data. An enthusiasm so great, they created a solution to an industry-wide problem.

If you would like to learn more,  visit their website here.
https://www.blackboxco.com.au

Find more information on the Zanda McDonald Award here
https://www.zandamcdonaldaward.com

Check out The Hub below
thehub.nextgenagri.com

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
www.allflex.global/nz/

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

Mark chats with Richard Scholefield of Whangara Farms, Gisborne NZ on this weeks Head Shepherd podcast.

Whangara Farms comprises of 7 farms, making up 9,500 Ha overall. Across the seven farms, there are 20 staff to manage the 37,000 breeding ewes (all of which are EID tagged), 10,000 replacement hoggets and 3,500 breeding cows. They regularly scan over 200% and mark over 50,000 lambs a year, an event the whole team is bought together for.

This opportunity of scale allows them to make the right choices when it comes to land allocation, an area, amongst others, Richard says has led to an increase of EFS from $70 /ha to $500 ha in his time at Whangara.

Richard is genetics crazy, which makes for a great conversation between him and Mark! The importance of your genetic decisions cannot be ignored, and is highlighted well in this conversation.

We are hosting another Q&A podcast this season, and this time we're going to record it live! If you have any questions for Mark, please email them to him or find us on social or at The Hub and we'll endeavour to answer them all for you.

Check out The Hub below
thehub.nextgenagri.com

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
www.allflex.global/nz/

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

This week Mark catches up with long-time friend, Dawson Bradford. Dawson started off in pigs, and bought some sheep to 'keep himself entertained' whilst he waited around to feed twice a day. What started off as a hobby, led to Dawson becoming one of Australia's most successful performance breeders. The Hillcroft Farms name can be found in many high performance Poll Dorset and White Suffolk pedigrees.

Mark and Dawson discuss a little about breeding pigs, and then onto how Dawson got his sheep to where he wanted them to be and where he hopes they'll be sometime soon with the addition of the GDF9 gene.

A truly great episode listening to two of the best in the industry discussing their passion for breeding and genetics.

If you would like to hear more from Dawson, we have another interview with him which can be found here .

Check out The Hub below
thehub.nextgenagri.com

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
www.allflex.global/nz/

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

Wallaloo Park is a family-owned and managed business located south of Marnoo in the Wimmera district of Victoria. The business operates a 3500ha mixed enterprise farming system, including cropping and livestock enterprises.

Wallaloo Park merino stud was founded in 1978, currently running 2500 ewes.  Utilizing the latest technology to enhance genetic gain, through both ASBV’s and stringent visual classing, Wallaloo Park is at the forefront of the merino and poll merino industry. A renowned leader of innovation, depth and service to the industry. Impacting both stud and commercial growers across Australia and abroad.

More information about Wallaloo Park can be found here:
www.wallaloopark.com

Check out The Hub below
thehub.nextgenagri.com

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
www.allflex.global/nz/

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

We are delighted to have had the chance to catch up with Laura Ryan. Laura is the founder and global Chair of Meat Business Women which launched in 2015.

With a first-class Honours in Marketing and a Masters in Management, Laura joined the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) in 2007. Successfully launching premium beef & lamb brands within a large butchery business in the North East of England. Working her way through the ranks she was appointed as Sector Strategy Director for Beef & Lamb Board in 2015. She led the strategic review and development for the Beef & Lamb sector in England by identifying key challenges and opportunities which deliver long-term growth.

More recently, Laura successfully launched Lavenpark, her own consultancy business which is working with levy boards, government and commercial companies to achieve greater success through improved industry insight, connectivity, business development, marketing, and communications.

Meat Business Women has recently been recognised by the United Nations with Laura presenting on the contribution Meat Business Women makes to the global Sustainable Development Goals.

More about Meat Business Women:
meatbusinesswomen.org/

Check out The Hub below
thehub.nextgenagri.com

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
www.allflex.global/nz/

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

Richard Loe, a former All Blacks player with a passion for livestock joined us this week on the Head Shepherd Podcast. Loe's family farm, Glenloe is based near Oxford in Canterbury in the centre of the South Island of New Zealand.  Richard is farming Dohne Merino Sheep and Santa Gertrudis Cattle. Richard is a co-host of Magic Radio's Rural Exchange program which airs every Saturday and Sunday morning from 6 til 8am.  Listen in to hear the latest on all things rural New Zealand.

Rural Exchange
https://www.rova.nz/home/podcasts/magics-rural-exchange.html
Rural
https://www.magic.co.nz/home/shows/talk/newshub-rural.html

Check out The Hub below
https://thehub.nextgenagri.com

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.
A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
https://www.allflex.global/nz/

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

Sophie and Lucy, who grew up at Middlehurst Station for the past 20 years, have had the absolute privilege of bringing Middlehurst Delivered to life. Bringing a premium product that you can enjoy at home, knowing exactly where it came from. Middlehurst Delivered aims to have consistency with their meat and to always give that "great experience".

It doesn't stop there, Middlehurst is on a mission to ensure that they are bringing you an innovative product and packaging that is sustainable. There is such a great range of cuts on each animal and Middlehurst Delivered believes a little education and inspiration around what can be achieved with them will help change the opinions of what some people might consider 'lesser cuts'.

Middlehurst Accommodation
 https://www.middlehurst.co.nz

Order or check out more about Middlehurst Delivered
https://middlehurstdelivered.co.nz/

Check out The Hub below
https://thehub.nextgenagri.com

A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
https://www.allflex.global/nz/

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE

The Luhrs family farm near Cavendish in Western Victoria.  Ricky and his wife Marni farm with Russell, Ricky's dad.  They have two speeds, flat out and asleep.  They are always thinking about extracting the next few percent out of the business through strategic management, pasture performance and genetics.   If what they need doesn't exist on the market they build it.  I'm sure you'll enjoy the banter, openness and energy of this episode.

Check out The Hub below
https://thehub.nextgenagri.com

A big thank you to our sponsors, Allflex Livestock Intelligence
https://www.allflex.global/nz/

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and delivery of animal monitoring, identification, and traceability solutions. Their data-driven solutions are used by farmers to manage animals. By putting intelligent, actionable information into farmers’ hands, their solutions empower them to act in a timely manner for optimal outcomes.

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, Heiniger Australia and New Zealand, and ProWay Livestock Equipment. Please consider them when making product choices, as they are instrumental in enabling us to bring you this podcast each week.

Check out the MSD range HERE

Check out Allflex products HERE

Check out Heiniger's product range HERE

Check out ProWay's product range HERE