CEO of neXtgen Agri. Passionate about breeding better livestock and working with their owners. Host of the Head Shepherd Podcast.
Christchurch City, New Zealand
Joined June 2016
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Mark Ferguson retweeted
"Surely that's not going to happen" should be a red flag according to this week's #HeadShepherd guest.
@gusbalbontin has spent his career around businesses experiencing change and for episode 300 of the podcast, @Fergenetics asked Gus what farmers can learn from that experience.
Mark Ferguson retweeted
The future is becoming increasingly unpredictable, according to @gusbalbontin, meaning that trying to predict it, is no longer useful. Instead, we should be getting better at adapting.
Join @Fergenetics this week for an extra-special guest on the 300th episode of Head Shepherd.
Mark Ferguson retweeted
"MAY DROP IMF LAMBS”
Maybe the start of something big looking into the future of merino breeding in Australia.
The first drop from the IMF family, we will end up with 320 lambs on the ground this year.
✳️Born in May average weight 45.5 kg
✳️ The ewe lambs will be joined 14/11/26 with a target 🎯 joining weight of 58kg av.
For the next 50 days they only have to average .260 grams per day to hit target 🎯 weight.
They will be penned up on sale day for a look see this Friday 25th of September.
#bowyerandlivermore
#JBS
#gundagailamb
#GLQ5
#sheepcentral
#rma
#kerinpollmerino
#forflockssake
#nextgenagri
#optiweigh
#MLA
#AWI
#merinoWA
#merinowool
#bestwoolbestlamb
#feedtech
#kerinwagyu
Mark Ferguson retweeted
SQUEEZING THE COST OF PRODUCTION 📉🐑
Less grain. Less drench. More wool. Better conception. More lambs weaned.
That’s what we’re seeing as genetic fat + muscle keep moving in the right direction 💪🏼
#bowyerandlivermore
#JBS
#gundagailamb
#GLQ5
#sheepcentral
#rma
#kerinpollmerino
#forflockssake
#nextgenagri
#optiweigh
#MLA
#AWI
#merinoWA
#merinowool
#bestwoolbestlamb
#feedtech
#kerinwagyu
Mark Ferguson retweeted
Dates are locked for this years inspection day and A+ sale.
110 elite shedding maternal composite rams will be offered.
If you’d like a copy of our newsletter that is about to drop, or the sale catalogue when ready jump online and sign up to our mailing list.
🤖 Made with AI
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗦 💰, 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗦 🤝🏻 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 😱 (𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦) 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟰𝗧𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗧 𝟳𝗣𝗠
What does it cost to make the right decision, and what does it cost when you don’t?
Join Nigel Kerin, Dr Tim Gole from For Flocks Sake and Mark Ferguson from neXtgen Agri on Friday the 4th of September at 7pm via Zoom, for a practical webinar discussion about the dollars behind the decisions made in a sheep business, where to spend money to create value, and what it can cost when you choose not to.
💰 𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗦
What are the right genetics really worth? How much should you be prepared to pay for a ram, and what do you get for the extra money you spend? We’ll look at the value created through genetic gain, the compounding return over time, and the difference between the cost of doing something and the cost of doing nothing.
With ram sales approaching, we’ll also put some practical thinking around what we are prepared to pay, what we should expect to get for that investment, and how better genetics can continue to create value well beyond the initial purchase.
🤝🏻 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗦
How do you assess a good opportunity? Nigel will unpack how he thinks about buying sheep, trading opportunities and market conditions, including how he puts a value on an opportunity, weighs up the potential upside against the risk, and makes decisions when there is real money and plenty of skin in the game.
It is about looking beyond whether something appears cheap or expensive and asking whether the deal actually creates value for the business.
😱 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦
What do disasters actually cost a sheep business, and what is worth spending to prevent them? We’ll discuss where things can go wrong, the cost of prevention versus the cost of failure, and how the law of averages eventually catches up with poor risk management.
We’ll also take those same principles into the pre-joining period, looking at body condition score, teasers and flushing. Nigel, Tim and Mark will discuss where they have seen these things done exceptionally well, what high-level execution looks like, and what it can cost when the basics are missed.
At the centre of the conversation is a simple idea, where should you spend money in a sheep business to create value, and what does it cost when you don’t?
Sometimes the magic happens because you invested in the right genetics. Sometimes it happens because you recognised the right deal. And sometimes it happens because you spent the money to avoid the disaster.
Register for the session 👉🏻 us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi…
We look forward to seeing you all next Friday!
#KerinPollMerino #ForFlocksSake #neXtgenAgri #AgWebinar #Merino #Wool #AustralianAgriculture #AnimalHealth #AustralianWoolIndustry #KerinAg #AgriculturalWebinar #SheepGenetics #AgEducation #FarmManagement #Livestock #MerinoWool
Mark Ferguson retweeted
"2026 RAM SALE CATALOGUE”
Is now available to view on the Kerin Agriculture website in excel & pdf - kerinag.com.au/sales
500 Auction rams
Kerin Poll’s on-property field day is on Wednesday 9th of September.
The on-property sale day is Friday the 25th of September.
If you wish to go for a look around the farm & the stud ewe base give me a call anytime on 0427464070
Cheers Nigel Kerin
#bowyerandlivermore
#JBS
#gundagailamb
#GLQ5
#sheepcentral
#rma
#kerinpollmerino
#forflockssake
#nextgenagri
#optiweigh
#MLA
#AWI
#merinoWA
#merinowool
#bestwoolbestlamb
#feedtech
#kerinwagyu
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭
Early start listening to one of the most intriguing and thought-provoking Head Shepherd podcasts, Ferg's thoughts on putting a dollar value on genetic change. Well worth a listen for anyone wanting to better understand what will drive production and profit in your sheep enterprise.
Listen here: headshepherd.com/1087265/epi…
One of the biggest takeaways for me was that the more we learn, the more we realise we don't know. The future of the sheep industry is only as bright as the people you surround yourself with and the willingness to keep learning.
Ferg (Mark Ferguson, neXtgen Agri) will be speaking at our Open Day on the 8th, which is a great opportunity to come along, hear from him firsthand and ask the questions that might help improve your knowledge base and, ultimately, your business.
Tuesday 8 September, on-property, Jerilderie. RSVP so we can cater: forms.gle/pJ5YHrDgB4krZqg6A
#PGK #pooginook #ramsale #ASBVs #merino #modernmerino #MLA #AWI #nonmulesed #ethicalwool #SustainableAgriculture #riverina #NextGenAgri #xytovet #jemalongwool
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝟐,𝟒𝟐𝟎 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝟕𝟏 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟗𝟗.𝟑% 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟐𝟗.𝟐% 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝.
Singles, twins and triplets averaged 28.7 kg, equating to around 320 g/day growth while on mum.
Just as importantly, the ewes achieved this while maintaining a BCS of 3.1.
We fed from marking to weaning while waiting for the season to hopefully come with us. Five weeks of feeding - 12kg/ewe of a 50/50 barley and corn ration, at a cost of $4.30/ewe.
The season has now come with us. The ewes are in the right condition to carry through to joining without having to spend additional time and money lifting them.
That $4.30 investment has delivered well beyond a weaning result — it has protected ewe condition, improve wool quality and weights, lifted lamb weights, grain-trained the lambs and set the ewes up for the next joining.
And for those who guessed the lamb weights in Thursday’s video — that particular pen averaged 31.1 kg, with the heaviest four weighing 44.5 kg.
#PGK #pooginook #ramsale #ASBVs #merino #modernmerino #MLA #AWI #nonmulesed #ethicalwool #SustainableAgriculture #riverina #NextGenAgri #xytovet #jemalongwool
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲
The 8th of September is Open Day and it will provide a plethora of commercially relevant information, with Dr Mark Ferguson, David Quirk and Hannah Schultz discussing ASBVs, indexes, wool's current boom, nutrition and animal health, followed by a panel Q&A session.
There will also be the opportunity to inspect the rams in the race and watch them walk.
It's shaping up to be a great day, so put it in your diary and come along with an open mind. Challenge your own program, challenge ours, with the aim of education, discussion and shared learning.
Please RSVP so we can cater for the day: forms.gle/pJ5YHrDgB4krZqg6A
We look forward to seeing you.
#PGK #pooginook #ramsale #ASBVs #merino #modernmerino #MLA #AWI #nonmulesed #ethicalwool #SustainableAgriculture #riverina #NextGenAgri #xytovet #jemalongwool
Mark Ferguson retweeted
"THERE ARE SOME IMPUT COSTS THAT HAVEN’T REALLY CHANGED IN 44 YEARS” 🤷♂️🤷♂️
✳️ 1982/83 Drought
✳️ The millennial drought which was an on & off dryer streach that dragged on over a 10 year period.
✳️ 2017/18/19 Drought period
They all have one thing in common over that 44 year period from 1982 to 2026 F1 barley the dearest price💰our business paid per ton delivered on farm was $425:00 with an average buy price over the 44 years of $294:00 delivered on farm.
To summarise drought feeding sheep with F1 barley over a 44-year period has stayed reasonably stable, makes budgeting a simple process, just enter the average cost over time.
#kerinagriculture
#bowyerandlivermore
#JBS
#gundagailamb
#GLQ5
#sheepcentral
#rma
#kerinpollmerino
#forflockssake
#nextgenagri
#optiweigh
#MLA
#AWI
#merinoWA
#merinowool
#bestwoolbestlamb
#feedtech
Mark Ferguson retweeted
Everyone is welcome to join us for our annual Open Day.
Our theme this year is “Optimising the Merino for the new reality”, with speakers presenting on accelerating returns from young sheep, genetics, immunity, joining ewe lambs and finishing wether lambs. More details to come.
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝟏𝟓,𝟎𝟏𝟑 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐬. 𝟏𝟕𝟎𝐦𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝟐𝟑𝟓𝐠/𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.
Mungadal station at Hay have just completed weaning lambs sired by P/GK rams selected for the internal Paraway breeding program.
Rams were selected using the index developed specifically to meet the breeding objectives by neXtgen Agri that looks at 22-traits.
At an average weaning age of 100days (24 hour curfew)
Twins av. 26.5kg
Singles av. 30kg
Overall average 28kg
Assuming av. Birthweight of 4.5kg equals average growth rate of 235g/day
Thinking about that it's 420t of live lambs weaned. Lambs weigh 6 times more then their birth weight in 100day all achieved on 170mm of rain
Jocks comment to me was the shape is impressive and it's great to see it returning especially through the rump.
The target exit weight on these is 24kg DWT by May next year during that time they will cut a fleece of value. The ultimate revenue stream.
This is a great reminder that genetics don't replace management but the definitely reward it. Genetics create the opportunity and consistent nutrition, sound management and attention to detail unlocked performance.
Congratulations Jock and the team at Mungadal. We look forward to following this drop through to turn off and seeing the combination of great stockmanship and genetics deliver where it counts the most.
#PGK #pooginook #ramsale #ASBVs #merino
#modernmerino #MLA #AWI #nonmulesed #ethicalwool #SustainableAgriculture #riverina #NextGenAgri #xytovet #jemalongwool
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞.
🐑 𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘
Wednesday, 9 September 2026
🐑 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘
Friday, 25 September 2026
All 500 rams will be penned and ready for inspection from 6:30am sharp on both days.
Our 2026 sale catalogue will be available soon on the Kerin Ag website. For more information about our Stud Sires and ASBV Data please visit kerinag.com.au/about-merino.
Online bidding will not be available. All bids must be placed in person at the property or via your agent. If you can’t make it on the sale day, please contact Nigel or Joe and we’ll organise for bids to be made on the day on your behalf.
Pre-register with Bowyer and Livermore as a buyer before 5pm Wednesday 23rd September to save time on the sale day.
📍 “Karuga Park”, 1217 Bournewood Road, Yeoval NSW
⏰ Auction starts 12:30pm, 25 September
📞 Nigel Kerin - 0427 464 070 or Joe Kerin 0437 464 350
Enquiries welcome 7 days a week.
Anyone who would like to have a drive around the day before or after the Field Day or Sale Day, please get in touch and we can organise a time.
#KerinPollMerino #OnPropertySale #BreedersToolbox #MerinoRams #SheepCentral #GeneticPerformance #SuperiorGenetics #RamSale #OpenDay #AgEvents #AustralianWool #ASBVs #KerinAgriculture
Mark Ferguson retweeted
TUESDAY NATIONAL SHEEP SALE - Auction 127764 | AuctionsPlus auctionsplus.com.au/auctions…
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 — 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Loved chatting with everyone at Bendigo this weekend. Here's where the next conversation happens 👇
𝟖 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 · at the shearing shed
Two hours of education before we inspect the rams a lineup of guest speakers on genetics, nutrition, and where the wool and meat markets are heading. Then out to the shed to look at the rams.
Different setup this year, built for good conversations and a relaxed feel.
We'd love to see you there. Reach out with any questions or to let us know you're coming.
#Pooginook #PGK #OpenDay2026 #MerinoGenetics #WoolIndustry #AustralianAgriculture #Merino #Sheep
Mark Ferguson retweeted
Anyone looking for #UltraWhite ewe lamb's keep an eye out on Tuesday's AP we'll have 460 for sale.
#EyreUltraWhites
#neXtGenAgri
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐬.
Gloves has a few of the 2025 drop rams here with full data behind them, some standout wool traits, and all up for auction on the 22nd of September.
Stop in, and we'll walk you through the breeding objective and the index behind them.
📍 Site 275, Bendigo Showgrounds
#PGK #MerinosThatPerform #SheepShow #Site275 #AustralianSheepAndWoolShow #GeneticProgress #DataDrivenBreeding #PerformanceMerinos #PerformanceGenetics #BalancedBreeding #SelectionIndex #WoolQuality #WoolTraits #CarcassAndGrowth
Mark Ferguson retweeted
𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃: 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐑 🐑
Kerin Poll Merino is looking for a Stud Manager to join our team at Yeoval NSW.
This is a serious opportunity for someone who knows sheep, understands breeding programs, has strong attention to detail and wants to be part of a stud business that is focused on performance, data, grass and clients.
For more details and to apply please visit kerinag.com.au/careers or email [email protected] with your resume and cover letter telling us a bit about yourself and why this role interests you.
If you’ve got questions and want to talk it through first, feel free to give Joe a call on 0437 464 350 or Nigel on 0427 464 070.
We’re always keen to talk to good people who want to grow with the business and if you would be interested in checking out the property beforehand, please get in touch.
#StudManager #PollMerino #Sheep #SheepCentral #Merino #KerinPollMerino #LambEx26 #MerinoWool #BendigoSheepShow #BestWoolBestLamb #Agriculture #AgCareers #AgriHiring #AgOpportunities #AgJobs #BeefCentralJobs #RuralJobs #SheepCentralJobs #StudManagerJobs #AgricultureJobs #CentralWestNSW #LivestockJobs #KerinAgriculture