Head Shepherd

This week, Mark catches up with Jill Hill of Benambra.
 
After following her fathers footsteps to rowing, Jill reached the World Championships in Greece, 1998, returning home with a gold medal in the lightweight double skull. Jill then went on to nationals in mountain biking.  After her stint in sports, Jill practiced as a physiotherapist, before returning home to the family farm in 2017.

By introducing the right sheep genetics to their Merino flock, and changing management practices, Jill increased the farms weaning rate from 60% to 129% in the first year.

Jill has endless enthusiasm and a drive for building and achieving goals and this is a great listen.

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.

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

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 Tony, Elise and Bernie Kealy of Curlew Merinos, Edenhope, Victoria.  The Kealys are a great example of successfully navigating the tensions of business and family being intertwined.  Their story is also a great example of how to involve the next generation in the business at a relatively young age.   
We cover how they run their successful enterprise as individuals but also as a team, and how they make the decisions they do.   We also cover how ASBVs have really allowed the Kealys to put the accelerator down on their breeding objectives, especially when the traits they're pushing for can often be antagonistic.

If you'd like to contact the Kealys, follow the link below
www.curlewmerinos.com/


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

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in 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 outcome.

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

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

Lachlan Campbell is the CEO and co-founder of ProAgni, their moto is “Improving Farm economics today. Ensuring farming’s sustainability tomorrow."
How are they doing this?  Well, it started with the realisation that Kangaroos don't burp methane.  From a few bags of product in Dubbo to a national distribution network and now breaking into the huge lot feeding industry in the US, ProAgni has collected a swag of awards along the way.  They have recently won the small business category of the National Australian Small Business Champion Awards

You can find more information on ProAgni at https://proagni.com/

Lachlans contact number is +61428467441

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

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in 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 outcome.

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

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 we hear from Andrew and Jamie Heinrich of Ella Matta, the first registered White Suffolk stud in the world.

Based on Kangaroo Island, which suffered a devastating fire just over 12 months ago, Andew and Jamie discuss the impacts of that on both them and their community, the start of the White Suffolk breed and the work they are doing to make their sheep work for them- not the other way around.

You can find more information on Ella Matta at www.ellamatta.com

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

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in 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 outcome.

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

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

Welcome back to the start of Season 3 of the Head Shepherd Podcast!

Our first guest this week is Jana Hocken. Jana is a Lean consultant with more than 17 years’ experience working for Toyota and in Lean consulting.

Since 2013, she has also been involved in supporting her husband’s 1000-head dairy farm in New Zealand, introducing Lean thinking to the business. She developed and rolled out the successful LeanFarm training program across New Zealand in 2017.
 
For more information on Lean farming principles, follow the link below:
www.leanfarm.nz/.

Find out more about Jana's book at the following link:
www.theleandairyfarm.com/.

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

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in 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 outcome.

Check out neXtgen Agri Hub below
https://thehub.nextgenagri.com.

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

Bonus Episode!
Today we're quickly catching up with Steve Cotton, founder of Dynamic Ag.

We discuss his PhD in internal parasites, starting up his business in 2015 and also Steve explains what he will cover in his session, "World of Worms" in our upcoming course, Growing Ewe.

If you want to sign up to, or find out more about our Growing Ewe course, follow the link below.
www.nextgenagri.com/growing-ewe-masterclass

You can find out more about Steve at
www.dynamicag.com.au

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

In this episode we feature the role of EID in making more informed decisions within a sheep business.  We hear from Steve Kelly, Commercial Manager at Allflex NZ as well as Charles Douglas-Clifford who farms at Stonyhurst in North Canterbury.  Stonyhurst have been using EID in their sheep operation for over 15 years and have learnt a lot along the way.  You can see some great pictures of Stonyhurst if you find them on Instagram  @stonyhurst_nz or on facebook @stonyhurst

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

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in 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 outcome.

www.nextgenagri.com

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

"Why cant we have $140 cutlets?" Tom Bull speaks to Mark this week about the future of the sheep meat industry and how LambPro is hoping to achieve this astounding figure by the middle of this year.
This is a fascinating chat, considering LambPro lambs contribute to over 1,000,000 lambs in the Australian market. Tom discusses branding and working with clients to achieve common goals.
https://www.lambpro.com.au/

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

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in 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 outcome.

www.nextgenagri.com

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 I had a conversation with Rob Hewett, a man who is involved in the primary industries at many levels: production, processing, exporting and education.  It is fascinating to hear his 'helicopter' perspective of these businesses and his view of the future of the primary industries in New Zealand.  A recurring theme is how carbon is shaping the discussions in boardrooms all around New Zealand.

Rob is also one of the first commercial farmers in New Zealand to adopt Smart Shepherd technology on his farm in South Otago. His aim is to improve his flock by identifying his high performing ewes. The end goal is to stay carbon neutral by increasing production efficiency through farming with the best genetics.


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

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in 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 outcome.

www.nextgenagri.com

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 we caught up with Sandi Brock of Ontario, Canada. Sandi walks us through her indoor sheep production system, explains why and how she became Youtube's most popular sheep farmer, and also touches on the publics perception of agriculture in Canada.

Check out Sandi's website
https://sheepishlyme.com/


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

Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the leader in 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 outcome.

www.nextgenagri.com

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