events.

Get back to basics on one of the most overlooked drivers of stock performance and farm profitability: mineral status.

Despite its impact on animal health, reproduction, growth and wool quality, mineral nutrition is often misunderstood or pushed aside, particularly in hill country and extensive systems.

Nutritionist, Melinda Turner, joins Mark Ferguson to discuss:

• Why mineral status is fundamental to optimal health and production
• The real efficacy and longevity of common mineral treatments, including injections and boluses
• The impact on contraception, lamb survival, growth and wool
• The role of monitoring in knowing whether your treatments are actually working
• How getting the mineral basics right can lift farm-gate profits and unlock full genetic potential

A farmer‑focused afternoon built by the Marlborough Farming for Profit committee:

• Panel discussion with Rob Peter, David Grigg, and Mark Zino, facilitated by local farmer Fraser Avery.
• neXtgen Agri CEO, Dr Mark Ferguson, will break down the essentials of genetic gain, covering the traits that make and save money, key decision points for replacements and sires, and why condition‑score genetics matter in pastoral systems.

Registrations are esssential

SwabTec is an Australian animal health technology company focused on developing new tools to improve sheep health and breeding outcomes. Their current flagship innovation is a simple saliva‑based test for worm resistance in sheep.

Watch the webinar recording here.

Mark Ferguson and SwabTec founder Sarah Preston discuss:

• The story and science behind SwabTec.
• The high heritability of SwabTec’s saliva test, wAbSwab, which can lead to faster improvements in flock resistance.
• The benefits of SwabTec versus traditional testing methods (e.g. there is no need to expose lambs to a high worm burden).
• How commercial producers and stud breeders can use SwabTec in their businesses.
• Examples from research validation with AGBU, Sheep Genetics and neXtgen Agri showing reliability and potential on‑farm value.

neXtgen Agri's CEO, Dr Mark Ferguson, is the MC at the National Poll Dorset Conference 2026, hosted by the Albury/Wagga Wagga Region.

For more details, keep an eye on the Ida Valley Station Facebook page.

For more information about the sale, contact Andrew Paterson at info@matakanui.co.nz.

For more information, visit the Middlehurst website.

For further details, check out the Melrose Partnership Facebook page.