Maximising eating quality and profitability in sheep with David Packer

Head Shepherd

Head Shepherd
Maximising eating quality and profitability in sheep with David Packer
Sep 06, 2026 Season 2026 Episode 297
Mark Ferguson

This episode comes from our Productivity & Profitability podcast, produced in partnership with Meat & Livestock Australia.

How do you breed a lamb that consistently delivers a better eating experience?

For decades, sheep producers have been selecting for traits they could easily measure, including growth, fertility and lean meat yield. But eating quality has remained far more difficult to quantify, despite being one of the biggest drivers of consumer satisfaction and long-term demand.

On this episode, Mark chats with David Packer, Program Manager – CarcaseValue at Meat & Livestock Australia, to explore how advances in meat science are changing that.

Whether you're interested in genetics, processing, meat science or producing lambs that better meet consumer expectations, this episode shows just how rapidly objective carcase measurement is reshaping sheep breeding.


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: info@nextgenagri.com.

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.

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