sheep

Genetics, biosecurity, and the cutest sheep in the world with Dr Belinda Cardinal, Caprotek

Genetics, biosecurity, and the cutest sheep in the world with Dr Belinda Cardinal, Caprotek

Managing the genetic quality of a herd can be a wicked challenge for Australian farmers. We’re a country with a small number of animals relative to the rest of the world, and formidable, complex biosecurity protocols.


Fortunately, Belinda Cardinal, Founder of breeding and genetics company Caprotek and career dairy goat farmer, enjoys spending time on wickedly difficult problems. After years spent strengthening the genetic diversity of her herd of dairy goats, Belinda attracted all kinds of coverage after importing the genetic material to breed the nation’s first Valais Blacknose Sheep in 2021.

From the vault: Mark Ferguson on science, sheep, and the tech-enabled future of genetics

From the vault: Mark Ferguson on science, sheep, and the tech-enabled future of genetics

Mark “Ferg” Ferguson is a sheep geneticist who’s paying attention to how both consumer demands and emerging technologies are impacting growers. Drawing on his experience with dozens of clients around Australia and New Zealand, Ferg shares:

  • insights for agtech companies, like the importance of personas and how to build relationships in a digital world;

  • what the future of extension and consulting in livestock looks like;

  • the role of cutting edge technologies in the sheep industry; and

  • a vision for the future where consumers expectations are met and growers are profitable.

Changing human behavior - Matt Crozier

Changing human behavior - Matt Crozier

How technology was introduced to a 200 year old sheep station.

Cavan Station is a 25,000 acre property, owned by the Murdoch family, which has undergone a significant transformation in the past 10 years. Matt Crozier, the Station’s General Manager, explains how they’re using genetics, genomics, data and software to improve the farm.