The cold has arrived in Oklahoma.  We aren’t seeing any moisture in the NW part of the state, but it sure like the SE quadrant is getting some wicked ice, cold and wind.  One thing about raising goats during frozen winter, I wish there was a better way to provide fresh water to them.  It seems like breaking ice and letting them get a good drink is about the best way.  Tank heaters just don’t seem to work quite right.  Automatic waterers and goats just don’t jive.  

     As far as the Champion’s Choice Jackpot, we will wait until Friday morning to see what the conditions in Norman look like before deciding to show, cancel or reschedule.  No matter what we do, it won’t work for everyone.  It will be very hard to re-schedule.  Even if we have it, the #s will be down no matter what happens between now and then.  Several have already decided not to attend.  Others have already decided to stay home and watch the Bedlam game.  Still, others have made it clear that if we have the show, they will be there.  We’ll wait and watch the weather and then make a decision in the best interest of everyone.  

     Make sure that your show goats are getting a good drink at least twice a day.  They may need an extra blanket or layer to keep warm.  Breeding stock need at least one good drink per day. If using heat lamps, double check them so that nothing catches fire.  Check your pets.  

      Stay warm, stay safe and have a good day.

Not everything was perfect today, but it could have been worse. Been trying to get the new barn done. Had some good help ready to run some lightning from one barn to the new one. I grabbed some digging utensils to find out how deep the water & electrical lines are so that the ditch witch ( built in Perry, OK) didn’t cut ’em. First, the ground is hard. Second, I ran into tree roots. As I was using my PHDs to cut through the roots, I found the water line. A trip to the hardware store and the leak is fixed. Now, the ditch is dug. The lines are laid. & at some point, it will all get hooked up. My Top Shelf electricians are in charge & we’re on their timetable. All I know is that I’m not hooking it up. Meanwhile, I moved heavy bred does into the big barn, trying to be pro-active towards this nasty weather headed our way. For the 4th day in a row, the weather was off the charts good here in paradise. Speaking of Ditch Witch, I’ve got an old buddy that works there taking care of the Super Witch–Don Pemberton. He has been known to answer to “short shit”. Google/you tube the super witch. Ditcher that digs 100 ft/minute and will ride wheelies. Pretty cool deal. For that matter, there is a pile of goat people that get a paycheck from Ditch Witch. Here’s to all of you hard working Americans at Charles Machine Works in Perry, OK. I just hope productivity doesn’t go in the tank–Big I & Ring, this means you. Have a good one & keep calm.

     Sunday was another beautiful day in paradise here at the Kelln Kompound.  Very little wind, 60 plus degrees, just nice.  The weathermen are warning us about later this week, but we will take days like this when we can get them.  

      I don’t know whether to be happy or disappointed but I didn’t see very many goats on Sunday.  I figured a pile would be calling wanting to trim hooves and what not since the Champion’s Choice Jackpot is next weekend.  Only two trailers showed up.  And that load of wethers and a set of does are ready to roll.  The good thing is that I got a bunch of my own stuff done.  It’s kind of nice to get things accomplished. 

     I examined due dates and realized that I have a set of does due in the next 10 days.  So, the kidding pens are up and ready to go.  With crappy weather coming, they will most likely kid during the cold.  It will be alright.

     Now, it is back to work.  I haven’t been there in a few days.  I hope everybody has a good day.

     I have had a wonderful Thanksgiving break.  I took Wednesday off in order to take Duke hunting.  We didn’t get a buck, but we did have some enjoyable outside time together.  The Kelln klan and Uncle Jim were at the Kelln Kompound for Thanksgiving.  Kela was the only one missing, but we did some facetime and everybody got to say “hi”.  She was meeting up with some transplant Ellis county people for Thanksgiving on the beach.  Our family has a lot to be thankful for.  

     Oh yeah!  There is a new corgi pup living in Shattuck.  And we piled everybody into the ’93 Chevy van for a tour of eastern Ellis county.  

I haven’t spent much time on the computer or the phone.  I actually have spent almost ZERO time on the phone, which is unusual.  But I liked it.

      Today, I spent the day outside trying to get stuff done.  The weather was beautiful.  Duke and I weighed, wormed, trimmed hooves and worked wethers.  The Dragon Lady cooked a heckuva smoke pork chop lunch which slowed me down for a bit.  Duke had a classmate spend the night tonight.  Kelln Depriest is the hombre’s name.  Yes, his first name is spelled right.  He is actually a cousin.

    I came in for a glass of tea and watched part of the first half of the Iron Bowl.  Auburn was winning.  I checked the other scores and saw that Ohio State had squeaked by Michigan and Florida State was pounding Florida.  I was wanting a bunch of upsets as I like the chaos at the end of the college football season.  I went back out and did chores.  Came back in and it was time for the 2nd half kickoff.  Alabama was now winning.  I don’t normally watch a whole lot of games, unless the Pokes or Notre Dame is playing.  I occasionally watch a Texas team or LSU play.  For some reason, I just plopped my fat ass into the chair and watched the 2nd half of the Iron Bowl. Wow!!  What a game.  Twists, turns, official reviews, put 1 second back on the clock and then that final play. That deal was fun to watch and I’m not a fan of either team.  Just big fun.  

     I hope everybody has had as good a break as I have had.  Cheers!

Irish proverb

     “A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.”

I don’t get too many long sleeps, but I get as many laughs in as I possibly can fit in a day.  If you can’t do something and have fun, then why do it?

Pretty impressive online semen sale tonight.  Now, breeders just have to use the right AI technician to utilize this stuff.  Then they need to have the right doe to make these genetics click.  Then, there just needs to be luck involved.  The goat world may not see if these deals work for a year or so.  It may even take a breeder till next year to get things synced, the calendar right, the moons aligned and well, once again, a butt-load of luck before they even try to utilize this stuff.  

      The way I figure, it will need to be a German/Irish proverb to make it work because once the long sleep and good laugh didn’t work, it will probably take a good drink to heal up.

     I really like this industry.  There is a pile of un-tapped future.  Hats off to the breeders that offered genetics.  Tip of the cap to all who bid.  Good luck to all.  And If you see me walking with a limp in weeks to come, well, there ain’t nobody that can say that I was afraid to back it up.  RUSM?!  I could buy 191 & Showtime genetics?  Done.  Too bad there wasn’t guns’n’roses, mozart or 900.  That would have made life interesting. I have a small herd.  I like good animals.  We’ll see what doe gets what.  If it doesn’t work; well, we will wish it would have.  

p.s. I feel like I need to go buy a lottery ticket on this fine evening.  I cracked the porch door just as Sasha blew up and went to chasing a skunk from the car-port.  I closed the door, thinking that the skunk would spray.  I grabbed a gun with a light mounted to it and asked Duke if he wanted to go get the skunk.  He immediately said, “Yes”.  Nanook, the great hunter, headed out, but came home without a skunk pelt.  Better yet, the skunk did NOT spray when Sasha chased her.  LUCKY!!

     It is unusual for me to get a full night’s sleep.  But it happened last night.  I came in from the barns, had a Shiner Bock, then ate supper.  I laid back on the couch around 8:30 watching the 49ers and Redskins on MNF.  Next thing I know, it is 5 am, I’m still on the couch wearing the same clothes, phone in my pocket.  I should be good to go for awhile.

     I need to be well rested to get ready for this online event this evening.  191 & Showtime–not to mention, Joe Dirt, the Beast, 9901, Moneybags, Batman, Joker, Rainman, Rumour Has It, Black Magic, Lights Out, etc.  Real opportunity for breeders to upgrade genetics in a hurry.  It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

     I like movies and I like music.  I just got done watching a flick from 1998 that I have heard about for a long time, but hadn’t seen, “The Big Lebowski”.  A lot of people won’t like this flick but I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the story, the lefts/rights, in/outs, ups/downs and you don’t see any of them coming, but the story is actually really simple.  “Nice marmot.”  Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, etc.  This movie is stacked with great characters.  Directed by the Coen brothers.  They just do their own thing, regardless of what Hollywood thinks.  And they make extremely profitable movies that people like.  Tarantino is another one that operates a little outside the norm, but makes great flicks.  

      In movie and music, you can make money and follow a cookie cutter approach and sell to the masses, but the truly great ones are original.  Once somebody breaks new ground, others follow.  

     In today’s music, (rock, country, pop. it doesn’t matter), I truly believe that there are a pile of musicians that are truly skilled.  There are lots of drummers that can pound the skins and guitarists that can absolutely shred.  A lot of bassists can play faster than any guitar hero of the 60s or 70s.  It used to be that a song was about the lyrics, the vocals and the flow of the song.  Then, Hendrix came along and made the song about the lead guitar.  Bands like Zeppelin combined big vocals with wicked guitars, added sounds and big drums.  And from there, rock music and therefore pop music evolved until you get bands like Metallica that can wail, shred and beat the drums at a high bpm.  Now, throw in the video aspect and Michael Jackson becomes big time.  Then, out of nowhere, a band like Guns N Roses hits the scene and changes what everybody was listening to in the late 80s.  Then a few years later, Nirvana comes along and changes it even more.  

     Country music has an even steeper curve.  Listen to greats like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard or Marty Robbins.  There is a nice drum beat with a steady bass note and an occasional guitar cord, but always a distinct vocal with a message.  Hank Jr. rocked it up a bit, but kept to the roots.  Today’s country is nothing but crappy rock.  Bigger guitars, faster beat with amped up lyrics but no real story.  There is no George (Jones or Strait) with this new crap.  But there, will be somebody, some band, somewhere that hits the scene and changes things.  Garth Brooks took regular country and added a big stage show with cool videos and blew back in the early 90s.  There will always be somebody that can change things up.  And we don’t always know where to look for the next big thing.

     Show animals are very similar.  Trends come and go.  Some breeders/feeders know how to stay up with the trends.  Some catch a wave and ride it and then that is it.  The goat genetics have been like 60s/70s rock.  Way good, ALL TIME greats, but just limited to a few deals.  Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, etc.  Some of their stuff is 50 years old, but still in style.  900, 191, Festus, Mozart, etc.  These bucks are still key names in this young industry, but due to a limited gene pool, they will have effects on the goat world for many years to come.  Due to the ever evolving AI/ET techniques, their effects will continue to be felt.  

      What I like about the thought of semen availabilty and the improved AI techniques is the fact that somebody out of nowhere may become the Nirvana of the goat world.  A completely new outcross that spreads rapidly across the industry.  It has happened in cattle, hogs, sheep and horses.  It will happen in goats.    And it needs to happen in the goat world.

     Some breeders want to keep their genetics close to the vest.  And that is fine.  I understand and value this opinion.  I don’t have an argument and don’t disagree.  But you can only line up that great genetic line so much until there is a problem(s) and something new has to be done.  All breeders are/ or should be looking for that next new sound that hits a rhythm with their existing genetic lines.  And if they aren’t looking for that hot, new sound, they won’t be in business very much longer.  

      Opening up the gene pool actually benefits all breeders.  It works both ways.  If some, small herd makes a great one but doesn’t want to sell the goat, well, he can offer semen to the general public, all while retaining ownership.  Or a BIG breeder can justify spending some cash to own the new sensation.  Both parties benefit.  

     Nothing controversial in tonight’s little blog.   Just stuff to think about.  It’s all relevant.  No matter what you do in life, it all takes creativity, desire and work ethic to be succesfull.  

How about Gambill?  I guess this back deal will keep you layed up for a while. Well, just lie there thinking about deer hunting, striper fishing, “wine” making and stock shows.  It’s all good. 

     Here’s to all of you, with me hoping your glass is close to full and that everybody can stay flexible but not limp while being lucky enough to have horseshoes and shamrocks on your side.  Puppies put people in good moods.  But then, so does a cold beer and the Pokes winning again.  

There is an Online semen sale Tuesday on oklahomashowgoats.com. If you are involved in the goat industry, especially the wether part, it would be way worth your time. We are going to offer one lot of Rumour Has It, two lots of Joe Dirt and two lots of Rainman. This is the first time that Rainman semen has ever been offered. Several other breeders are going to offer some top flight bucks. There will also be a pair of bucks that have NEVER been offered. I’m talking two of the BIGGEST,most proven genetics ever in the wether industry. There has never been an offering of wether oriented genetics like this sale will be. Well, it is unprecedented.

     There are a lot of crappy movies out there that I enjoy watching.  None of them won academy awards, but they are still entertaining.  They all had that “thing” that makes you kind of like it.  

     Maybe, the worst one is “Tremors” with Kevin Bacon and Reba McEntire.  This movie is so bad that you have to watch to see what happens next while you are sitting there thinking “Hell, I could make this movie.”  Clint Eastwood’s “Every Which Way But Loose” probably tops this list as a great flick, with great characters and a great story plus there was an orangutan named Clyde.  I love that show and the sequel.  Burt Reynold’s “Smokey and the Bandit” flicks are big fun to watch.  Kevin Costner’s “Waterworld” and “The Postman” are both good watches, but not to die for.  Another movie that I like, but the acting is horrible, is “Gone in 60 Seconds”.  It has a cool plot, cool cars, a cool chick and a tie-in that everybody can relate to.  Everybody has an “Eleanor”.  That one thing that they can touch, but can’t have, shouldn’t have, the stars haven’t lined up kind of deal.  Well, it just hasn’t worked out.  If you haven’t seen the movie, “Eleanor” is a bad-ass Mustang car.  I’m sure that this crappy movie has made this model of car more valuable.  

     I’ve previously stated that I would like to eat a penguin, pet a koala and shoot a warthog.  I’ve never tried very hard to make these things happen.  Probably because I have had better things to attend to.  But, as I get older, I think about those “things” that you wanted and it just didn’t happen.  

Things I want to do, but haven’t:

–I’ve already listed three.

–To vote for a really good president and that candidate wins.

–To catch a peacock bass.  I know all I need to do is book a deal into Central/South America and I can catch one.  But, there is a good chance somebody down there might shoot me.  I know there are people here that would like to see me shot, but there are laws up here.  Not so much, there.   Point being, I would rather get shot by somebody I expect it from.  

–I’m not in a hurry for the role, but I think that I will be a pretty cool grandpa.  

–To buy a $100,000 goat that is profitable to ME.   Which means that I would have to generate a $120k to cover insurance, incidentals and actually make a profit.   And for all you smart asses that are thinking that you would like to sell me a $100k goat, better get to work on your breeding program and what you will part with because in order to make $100K work, semen sales are going to have to be possible.  

–Be able to kick back with the Dragon Lady after a college graduation, sometime in the next decade (hopefully) and say, “This deal worked out better than the first time.”  

What’s the old saying?, “You can wish in one hand and…”  I guess, we’ll have to see which hand fills up first.  

–To own that magical, mythical unicorn that I have seen but can’t seem to own.  Just a shot at it. To buy, to use, oh well.  

–Leave a legacy that you need to try hard, hope for luck, work harder and no matter what, make it fun–for others as well as yourself.  

–Find the next great food joint. 

–Make it a human law to practice random acts of kindness.  They used to teach it as the golden rule.  But, we got sour on one another and greedy.  So, now, we just need to do RAK because it gives us a fighting chance to feel good.  Especially, when elderly, disadvantaged, special needs and service people are involved. If we all would do this on a regular basis, the shitty weather might go away, just because of the positive acts by so many.  Can’t hurt to try.

     Everything I listed is real do-able.  But, I’ve been thinking.  I want to race camels with my friend Leroy Bookstore as the jockey on my magnificent looking beast of a camel and Mikey Thompson riding the other camel.  And Mikey’s camel is a real un-sightly, bad structured bastard that is unclean and unfit for humans.  Of course, I win.  

–I want to watch an arm wrestling contest between Allan Poe and Tommy Milligan.  And in a fair match, Milligan wins.  

     And in a really wierd world, Mustard wins a beauty pageant and there will be a concert south of Fargo, OK and Van Halen will be the warm up act before Gun ‘n Roses opens for George Strait followed by AC/DC who will play a few songs and then KISS will play the encore.  But then, Willie Nelson surprises everybody and finishes the evening and we all go home happy and for some reason, we all want a twinkie and a bag of doritos.    

     How’s this for a Friday night kind of, you have got to be $h!tt!ng me kind of deal?  The author just ain’t right about his head.  Actually, I can make most of these deals happen.  Well, except I don’t know if I can get Mikey to ride a crappy camel.  And maybe that Guns N Roses reunion.  

       All we need now is Animal from the muppets playing the drums and Thing getting whacked in the head with a beer bottle.  Most of you are going, “What?” and Thing is going “That sorry SOB!”.    

     Here’s to you and all those that try to help others.  I hope everybody has a day or two like dealing with puppies.  Nothing but smiles, cuddles, belly rubs, hugs, ear rubs and an occasional bad smell that you attribute to the puppy.  And remember, that we always over-look an occasional turd, skid mark and wet spot when dealing with puppies.  If you are dealing with friends, family,employees and/or customers, well, then you probably better treat them like puppies and realize that you will have a turd left behind the couch, a wet spot over there, and you don’t know why you have them, but you can’t let go just yet.    Some things are just worth dealing with.

      Right now, in Duncan, OK, the Fall Classic is taking place.  This is the dangdest gathering of hog breeders, buyers, lookers, tire kickers, BSers and the largest # of hogs sold in one place.  They will sell breeding age pigs of all breeds, show pigs, auctions in the parking lot, private treaty transactions.  You name it, if it involves a show pig, it is happening at Duncan this weekend.  The motels are sold out months in advance.  The restaurants are full and the quick stops & bars stock up on cold beer to appease all of the hog enthusiasts.  It’s crazy, but cool.  

     I haven’t attended the Fall Classic in several years.  Part of me would like to go.  The rest of me knows that it is best if I stay home.  The thing about the Fall Classic that got me to thinking is how much different goat sales are compared to other species.  

     The driving force behind the price of a bull or boar is the semen sales.  Whether a boar stud or breeder buys the top boars this weekend, they will sell semen on that animal.  Almost all of the top bulls have semen being offered in some form or fashion.  Goats, not so much. Yes, I know that the AI / flush side of the goat industry is just now really getting good.  But if you are interested in using the VERY best wether sires, it has been hard to get your hands on the semen.  The driving force behind a buck purchase is that almost every breeder is trying to find that magical next piece.  So us breeders spend a pile to get a piece of the right genetics.  And then we just keep him to ourselves.  

Heat Wave, Sugar Ray, Monopoly, Full Flush, Who Made Who–all made famous because of their AI use.  LOTS of breeders used these bulls and raised good ones. 

Slam Dunk, Tae Bo, Yakety Yak, 105, Warfare–these boars revolutionized alot of different herds.  All through AI.

900, 191, Festus, Mozart–What would the semen from these bucks be worth on the open market?  How many could actually utilize this semen to improve their herd?  I don’t blame the breeders for not parting with it.  But on the other hand, how many dollars are being left on the table?

Sometimes, an opportunity might be missed to make some cash.  

900–Everybody would want a piece of this legend.  I’d like to have it just to say that I’ve got some 900 in the tank.  Is a straw of 900 worth as much in 2013 as compared to what it would have cost in 2009?  I don’t know, but I do know that if offered, it would bring a pile of jack.

191–Still siring and still very relevant to the industry.  His sons are siring champions, his daughters are producing.  This living legend would bring a wad.

Festus–not as hot a deal as he was a few years ago when he was dominating wether shows.  It would still be cool to put Festus on a bunch of 900 line daughters.

Mozart–He may be more relevant today than he was in his prime.  That’s saying something.  

Freaky–way relevant and might change a herd quicker than any of them.

What would I do with semen from these bucks?  900, Freaky & 191–I’d probably just put it in the tank and tell stories about it.  Then I’d probably forget to fill the tank at some point, then I’d have some high dollar useless straws and I’d have another story.

Festus and Mozart–I’d use it and try to make a set of females.

Now, if I had some Showtime.  Well, I’d be real careful and try to use it ASAP and make as many offspring as I possibly could with that stuff.  

The day is coming when semen will be readily available on all of the top shelf wether bucks.  But, it may not be this day.  

Until then, it’s like the NFL draft and people better grab the BEST available bucks.