Scene + Herd: Podcasts From Beef + Lamb New Zealand

We’re joined by Bill Garland who farms at Maungatautari in the Waikato and Dr Katherine Tozer, Senior Scientist at AgResearch, to talk deferred grazing. Around for many decades in different forms, it’s gaining more popularity as a way to transfer feed from spring to autumn/early winter, to regenerate pastures and to cut down on diesel, seed and cropping/regrassing costs.  Could it have a place in your system? For more details, check out the deferred grazing information on B+LNZ’s Factsheet, DairyNZ’s Deferred Grazing page and AgResearch’s guide book. This research was supported by AgResearch, DairyNZ, MPI, Ellett Trust, Ballance Agri-nutrients, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Waikato Regional Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and especially the many farmers who contributed their time, paddocks and expertise. 

Tools, tech and tactics to make every blade count – Industry-renowned beef expert Bob Thomson (AgFirst) and farmers Ben Trotter (Luggate) and Matt Tayler (Garston) share practical tools, proven tactics, and tech insights to boost efficiency and profit in beef systems—including a look ahead at the role of wearables in the future of farming.  Recorded on the B+LNZ Central Otago Farming for Profit “Grass to Gold” webinar, 16 June 2025

Breeding hoggets can be a smart way to lift overall lamb numbers - but only if it’s done right. In episode two of Optimising Lamb Survival, a podcast series from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, we’re diving into hogget lambing. The Country’s Rowena Duncum sits down with Professor Paul Kenyon, Head of the School of Agriculture and Environment at Massey University and Riverton farmer Geordie Eade, to talk feed planning through lactation, scanning strategies, health considerations, and the long-term impacts of breeding ewe hoggets. Whether you're already breeding hoggets or just considering it, this episode is packed with practical advice to help make the right decisions on-farm.

Pregnancy scanning offers more than just lamb counts - it’s a powerful management tool that can lift lamb survival and save on feed. In episode 3 of Optimising Lamb Survival, a podcast series from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by Associate Professor Rene Corner-Thomas from Massey University.  They explore how to make the most of scanning - from identifying ewes needing extra support, to improving feeding strategies and pinpointing lambing dates. If you want to turn scanning results into real productivity gains, this episode is for you.

Getting more lambs on the ground, and through to weaning, takes more than just good luck. Optimising Lamb Survival, a new podcast series from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, shares practical tips and proven strategies to lift lamb survival and productivity. In part one, The Country’s Rowena Duncum chats with Dr David Stevens from AgResearch about feed planning, ewe nutrition, and the key factors that make or break your lambing success.

Internal parasites and drench resistance are serious threats to livestock production. In the final episode of our special four-part series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is once again joined by B+LNZ Principal Scientist (Animal Health Research) Dr Cara Brosnahan to look at targeted selective treatment in the fight against drench resistance.

Internal parasites and drench resistance are serious threats to livestock production. In part three of our series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by B+LNZ Principal Scientist (Animal Health Research) Dr Cara Brosnahan to look at the B+LNZ Research livestock parasite management groups – launched across the country to promote best practices and improve control strategies.

Internal parasites and drench resistance are serious threats to livestock production. In part two of our series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by B+LNZ’s Wormwise Programme Manager Ginny Dodunski to look at all aspects of the programme – from its conception through to report findings, plus practical messages for farmers.

Internal parasites and drench resistance are serious threats to livestock production. In part one of a special four-part podcast series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by B+LNZ Head of Science & Research Dr Suzi Keeling to look at new initiatives underway as part of the B+LNZ livestock internal parasite research programme, the reasons why this research is so important, and work underway globally to tackle this issue.

Advice from Erin Riley, North Canterbury Vets talking at a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Farming for Profit field day. In particular, she notes sheep are less likely to get their required selenium in oral drenches now. More information in B+LNZ’s Factsheet Trace Element Nutrition of Sheep

Facial Eczema is becoming more widespread in New Zealand, costing NZ’s economy $332 million annually. In the final episode of our special four-part series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is once again joined by B+LNZ Principal Scientist (Animal Health Research) Dr Cara Brosnahan to wrap up the wider conversation by looking at management of facial eczema and why New Zealand needs more tools in tackling the issue.

Facial Eczema is becoming more widespread in New Zealand, costing NZ’s economy $332 million annually. In part three of our series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by Dr Cara Brosnahan to look at the innovative "sheep poo study", how farmers are contributing, and what tools are being developed to tackle this disease.

Caitlin Thistoll from Ballance Agri- nutrients was presenting at Beef + Lamb New Zealand's Central Canterbury Farming for Profit day,  Reflections on Summer Crop Management. She talks about the three factors farmers need to consider before establishing a summer forage crop.  Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

Captured at Out the Gate 2025 held in Rotorua, Simon Quilty shares an in-depth analysis of the global red meat market and the outlook for New Zealand trade. This is recorded before the United States’ decision to impose tariffs on New Zealand exports, announced 3 April 2025. Watch part two for a follow up after the US tariff announcement and Simon answers questions from farmers.

As a follow up on Simon Quilty’s presentation at Out the Gate 2025 (see part one), Simon shares his initial reaction to the United States’ decision to impose tariffs on New Zealand exports (announced 3 April 2025), and answers farmer questions from his Out the Gate 2025 presentation.

Facial Eczema is becoming more widespread in New Zealand, costing NZ’s economy $332 million annually. In part two of our series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by Becky Dymond to look at the economic, social and wellbeing impacts of Facial Eczema, plus key drivers behind all the work into the seven-year 'Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts' programme. 

Liver fluke is a major cause of production issues in sheep and cattle in New Zealand. Dr Andrew Dowling,  technical expert animal health and nutrition at PGG Wrightson, shares what he has learnt from his years of being a vet and eight years of studying this parasite for his PhD. Hear more about what it is, where it came from, how to tell if you have a problem with it and how to manage it. For more information, check out the section on liver fluke in B+LNZ’s Wormwise Hub.

Achieving 150 percent lambing in hoggets might seem an audacious goal, but Southland farmers Geordie Eade and Pete Thomson believe this will happen in their farming lifetime. The pair, who are members of the Hogget 150 group, spoke at a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Farming for Profit day and outlined what the group members have found to be the critical factors for increasing the productivity and profitability of their hogget flocks. For more information, see Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s guidebook ‘Hogget Performance: Unlocking the potential of hogget lambing’ Breakfeeds are shorter podcasts from Beef + Lamb New Zealand.  

Facial Eczema is becoming more widespread in New Zealand, costing NZ’s economy $332 million annually. In part one of a special four-part podcast series, The Country’s Rowena Duncum is joined by Dr Suzi Keeling to look at key aspects of the seven-year Eliminating Facial Eczema’s Impacts programme – a joint collaboration between Beef + Lamb NZ and MPI, with contributions from farmers and industry experts.  

In the tenth of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s ‘Parasite Chronicles’ podcasts, Sarah Perriam-Lampp talks to Otago farmer Willy Scurr about how he is managing drench resistance on his farm. For more information on internal parasite management, checkout B+LNZ’s Wormwise hub