Special livestock service

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 22

Special livestock service

Elders was quick to recognise the specialised services required for some of the newer trends in pastoral farming by appointing its own specialist representatives to service the rapidly increasing number of deer and goat farmers. Canterbury is fortunate to have two of these experts based in Christchurch; they are Mr Evan Mackie who specialises in deer, and Mr Calvin Leen who specialises in goats. A Southlander, Evan has had some 28 years in the rural servicing industry, commencing as an office junior and rising to the position of head auctioneer. In 1979, Evan began specialising in the deer industry and also officiated as auctioneer at numerous deer sales. At the end of last year, Evan joined Elders Pastoral as deer co-ordinator based in Christchurch. With his long experience in • the stock and station industry, particularly servicing deer farmers, he can offer sound practical advice on all aspects of the deer farming industry. Evan can be coptacted at the Blenheim Road Branch, telephone (03) 482-859, or after hours (03) 56-014. Although relatively young in years by industry standards to be recognised as a “specialist,” Calvin Leen has achieved many milestones servicing goat farmers and is one of the most knowledgable young meh in his field today. His accomplishments include: ♦ Arranging some of the

first importations of goats from Australia into New Zealand. • Arranging the importation of semen into New Zealand. • Purchasing and arranging the sale on behalf of many . clients registered and commercial goats throughout Australia. • Became expert in the use, of video equipment for the marketing of all forms of livestock in particular goats. • Attended most seminars and other educational opportunities that have given him an expert knowledge on practices and trends within goat farming not only in New Zealand, but Australia, South Africa and Europe. Although Elders specialise in traditional auction and private treaty transactions, Calvin believes that video is the future medium of promoting the sale of goats and other livestock not only in New Zealand but world wide.

If you wish to discuss any aspect on goat farming with Calvin, contact him at the Blenheim Road

branch, telephone (03) 482-859, or after hours (03) 487-370. A new experience for Christchurch deer farmers and investors will be brought to Canterbury .soon when Elders Pastoral introduced its first video deer auction. Elders has been involved in international video auction selling Hereford cattle embryos, but this was the first time deer have been offered nationwide to New Zealand buyers. The deer remain on a vendor’s property until delivery, so they are not

subjected to the trauma of trucking and crowds. Each animal is filmed on video tape, along with a description of it by a qualified senior livestock representative. i The video, comprising the full catalogue, is available to prospective purchasers at various outsale venues throughout the country at any time prior to the auction. When the auction commences, buyers view the animals, hear a description of them, and then place bids at the outcentres which are instantaneously related directly to the auctioneer at the sale centre, which may be some hundreds of kilometres away. This way, vendors’ animals are exposed to a very large audience of buyers while the animals are still on the property. The first video auction will be held at the Airport Travel Lodge on Friday, May 8, at noon, pre-sale viewing will commence at 10 a.m.