Bryce and Grant Hausler, Janmac stud, Goroke, Vic, who live just outside the cross border zone are hoping to be granted an exemption to hold an inspection day in SA ahead of their sale.
Vic Poll Dorset and White Suffolk stud Janmac is facing a “once in a lifetime” dilemma, with stud principals Grant and Bryce Hausler separated from more than half their clients by the border restrictions.
Last year, more than 100 rams in their 200 lot sale were sold into SA, but they are now unsure about how to give their clients an opportunity to see the 2020 sale rams.
The state government’s decision to reduce the cross-border community travel area from 50 kilometres to 40km from the Vic border has seen their Goroke, Vic, property fall just outside this zone, creating further complications.
They are hoping to hold an inspection day in SA prior to their October sale so buyers can make their selections and then bid online through Elite Livestock Auctions, who they have enlisted, at the physical auction.
Grant sees this as ‘make or break’ to the sale’s success.
“We totally understand the need to take all precautions to stop the spread of this virus but we hope there can be some discretion in certain cases for this once-in-a-lifetime situation,” he said.
“We need to get our sheep into SA for them to be viewed, it is potentially a $150,000 decision to us.
“If we lose clients because they can’t buy our sheep this year it will be hard to get them back. We have put in a lot of effort over the years building a really good client base in SA.”
Grant says the two things going in their favour are time to work out the best strategy, with the sale still eight weeks away, and the pleasing quality of their line-up of rams.
Courtesy of Catherine Miller, Stock Journal.
