Head Shepherd

“Engage, not educate.” That’s Claire Taylor’s mantra when it comes to shifting agriculture’s public perception.

From a career in political journalism to a Nuffield Scholarship spanning 16 countries, Claire has seen firsthand how farming is scrutinised around the world. 

We chat about:

- breaking out of the agricultural echo chamber

- the power of agritourism

- why trust-building, not just broadcasting, is the key to better advocacy

- the latest farming unrest in the UK, and

- her move from Scotland to Australia to launch Agvocacy Consulting.

https://www.agvocacyconsulting.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 on the podcast we have our sponsors, MSD Animal Health, discussing Clostridial diseases and proper vaccine protocols. Our guests, Felicity Wills and Hamish Pike, are both Veterinary Technical Advisors for the company, and discuss the prevalence, symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies associated with Clostridial diseases.

From Pulpy Kidney to Blackleg, we cover what happens, what to look for, and why vaccines are a simple but essential tool for preventing losses.

• Why clostridial diseases turn up so often
• How to spot the signs before it’s too late
• Getting the most out of vaccines (without wasting money)
• The myths, the mistakes, and the must-knows

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're giving you a bonus episode on the Head Shepherd Podcast. Our host Mark, also hosts the Fibre Frontier podcast and we thought this interview with Dr Susan Robertson was worth sharing with our audience here on Head Shepherd.

The Fibre Frontier is supported by AgriFutures Australia and the Goat Fibre Producers of Australia. Find more on AgriFutures Australia's Goat Fibre Program here - https://agrifutures.com.au/rural-industries/goat-fibre/.

You can find related information and a world of likeminded people at the Goat Fibre Gateway - check it out here - https://gateway.goatfibre.com/.

If you're keen on mohair and cashmere, or just love a good yarn about agriculture, share this episode, leave a like and a review, and let's spread the word about The Fibre Frontier!

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 on the Head Shepherd podcast, we’re joined by Dr Pedro Fontes from the University of Georgia to talk about beef cattle reproduction. Pedro’s research focuses on optimising fertility through artificial insemination (AI), synchronisation protocols, and embryo transfer strategies.

Mark and Pedro discuss the latest findings on GnRH compounds, how pre-synchronisation boosts conception rates, why improved ultrasound technology is enhancing embryo recipient selection and how excess bull condition affects fertility. 

If you’re looking for new ways to improve reproductive efficiency in your herd, this episode is a must-listen. 

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 on the Head Shepherd podcast, we’re deep-diving into Toxoplasma Gondii with veterinary parasitologist Connor Bury. Connor walks us through the lifecycle of the parasite, how it’s impacting sheep farmers across the world, and what we can do to reduce the impacts of it.

Whilst many know that cats are the main culprits in spreading toxo, did you know the importance of water quality when it comes to reducing the spread of the parasite? 

Tune in today to learn more and equip yourself with the knowledge to lower your sheep's risk of toxoplasmosis.

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 on the podcast, our guest is Amber Smith, the latest livestock consultant to join the neXtgen Agri team. Raised on a Merino stud in central-west New South Wales, Amber developed a deep connection to livestock early on, working with sheep, cattle, dogs and horses. After completing an honours degree in Animal Science at the University of New England, she ventured north to the cattle stations of the Northern Territory.

Returning south, Amber launched her own sheep contracting business, gaining valuable insights into different production systems, infrastructure efficiencies, and breed-specific management. Now, as part of our team, she's excited to work with farmers to improve productivity, genetics, and overall flock performance.

Based in New South Wales, Amber is ready to hit the road, meet clients, and apply her expertise to help farmers get the most out of their livestock.

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

How do we get the next generation onto farms while helping established farmers transition out? In this episode of Head Shepherd, Mark chats with Sarah How, co-founder of Landify and New Zealand finalist for the Zanda McDonald Award. 

Sarah shares her journey from family farming in Mid-Canterbury to launching a platform that connects farmers, aspiring landowners, and investors. Sarah co-founded Landify after years of working in agronomy and research when she saw firsthand the challenges both young farmers and retiring landowners faced. Transitioning from a stable career to entrepreneurship wasn’t without its challenges, but with a passion for problem-solving and a belief in the power of partnerships, Sarah is determined to reshape the future of farm ownership.

Mark and Sarah discuss what’s next for the platform- Whether you’re a farmer looking to transition, an investor curious about opportunities, or someone dreaming of owning a farm, this episode is packed with insights to help you take the next step. 

https://www.landify.co.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

Most farmers focus on production—but how many focus on profit? In this episode, Jeremy Hutchings explains how mastermind groups and business coaching are changing the game for farmers.

• Do you know your key business numbers?
• Do you have a 3–5 year plan for your farm?
• Are you surrounded by people who push you forward?

Jeremy Hutchings has worked with hundreds of farmers to turn good farms into great businesses. In this episode, he explains why mindset, strategy, and networks separate top-performing farmers from those just getting by.

Find out more at the link below:

https://www.farmownersacademy.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

From dairy farming to mussels, Maegen Blom’s family took an unexpected turn into aquaculture—and she jumped right in. Now, as Operations Manager at Mills Bay Mussels, Maegen is tackling the challenges of farming a live product, managing an unpredictable supply chain, and pushing for better mussel genetics. In this episode, we get into the quirks of mussel farming, from harvesting wild spat to outsmarting snapper, and why the industry is still full of untapped potential.

• How a dairy farming family ended up in aquaculture
• Why mussel farming is all about patience, not control
• The genetic unknowns of a wild-caught industry
•  Snapper, rain, and other farming headaches

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

Some rams at sales are not what they seem. Foot trimming and excessive feeding can cover up genetic faults, and buyers are paying the price. This week, Ferg breaks down what’s really happening in the industry and how we can fix it. 

🐏 The problem with foot trimming in stud sales – why it hides genetic faults.

📉 How overfeeding sale rams distorts their true potential.

🏡 Why animals should be presented as they are—no sheds, no tricks.

🧬 The push for breeding values to improve foot structure.

💰 How buyers can drive change by rewarding honest breeders.

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