It has been rather humid the past week and a half in this part of the world.  Goats tend to back off of feed when it is humid.  If you watch the doe herd, they will lay around more when the humidity is high.  Kids will just about cut their feed consumption in half.  The thing that all goat breeders/showers should remember is that theses animals come from a very dry climate.  And GOD made a goat to eat the crap that other animals didn’t want.  So when we try to feed them high quality feed and move them into more humid climates, they aren’t going to consume as much.  Also, there is a higher probability of worms, coccidi and other forms of the shits as the moisture level rises.  

     Let’s get random like a wandering pot bellied pig.  Who knows where it is going next?  (By the way, I saw one tonight)  Talk about random crap.  I’m a mile and a half south of Fargo, OK on my way home tonight, listening to Winger and is that a dog, or a….I think it is… a….WTH?….Is that a…holy Batman, that is a pig going out of the ditch into that yard towards that guy.  That was a fat bastard…the pig not the guy.  Too bad we didn’t see that pig near kitty-qway last year.  Listen….Listen….

Did you hear about the lady that backed into the airplane propeller?  It disaster.  Say it slow.  Like in 3 syllables. Get it?

     So, I bought a pair of wethers on an online auction while we were traveling to Boston.  I had not seen them, but had been in contact with the breeder.  I have bought several goats online from this breeder and have not been led wrong.  Anyways, I haven’t been able to get away from work to head to south texas to pick them up.  Sunday night, Big Bill mentioned that he knew somebody that might drive to get them–for a price.  He called me on Monday evening and said, “I got a guy.”  I asked, “Who?”  He said, “Ron Cox”.  I was like, well son-of-a-gun, I wouldn’t have thought of him, but I should have.  You see, Ron is a driving son-of-a-     Which means if it has wheels, wings, jets or a prop, he can drive it.  Ron and his wife and son(and now his wife and kids) have always been Kelln family favorites and for that matter, Shattuck favorites.  In his spare time, Ron drives to pick up cars for the local car dealer in Shattuck.  However, he doesn’t normally drive 17 hours round trip and haul a pair of goats home.  And he doesn’t normally deal with livestock until it is on a grill.  But when Bill said Ron will do it, I was all in.  

   Anyways, Ron made it there and back with no problems other than a bit of a credit card issue.  You see, he had my card and he isn’t me.  But, he got fuel and kept rolling.  Guess what I learned from Ron on this trip?  He didn’t get a speeding ticket.  I guess it isn’t the pickup but the driver that causes us to get pulled over in Menard county.  Then again, maybe it is the pickup.  Once again, there was a damn fine pair of wethers unloaded out of that popper.  It was in the dark when I put them in a pen last night and it was dark when I fed this morning.  But after further examination by Duke and myself this evening, it was agreed that this pair have a chance to be dang nice wethers.  I will continue to be a repeat online buyer.  

     Upon further research, it wasn’t the chinese that hacked me.  It was that a&m quarterback that can’t stay out of the news or off twitter.   Then again, the letters just looked like they spelled that last name.  Maybe it was that korean dictator that hangs out with the worm.  How about that crap?  Dennis Rodman as an ambassador.  I mean…that is the true definition of WTF?  Dennis Rodman–peace negotiator.  

      I don’t want to seem bi-polar, but I like pickles.  Not whole pickles and very few sliced pickles.  I have a specific brand of sliced hamburger dill pickles that I really like.  I’m talking straight out of the jar kind of like.  Somebody else must eat this brand, as it isn’t a national brand, but the Dragon Lady doesn’t seem to have problems keeping me in stock.  Guess what?  Duke eats them like candy, too.    You know what’s wrong with this part of this blog?  You are reading this, thinking “He’s writing about pickles?” and you are sitting there trying to guess what brand of pickles I like.  And I’m the one with the problems?  Hhmm?

      As I am writing this, “Smokey & the Bandit” has came on the TV.  Big Enis and Lil Enis are trying to hire the Bandit.  I always laugh when I see this.  I have a good customer that reminds me of Lil Enis.  The double en-tandre’s in this movie kill me.  (I don’t have spell check on this blog and I don’t know how to spell en-tandre).  

     Well, that is about enough random crap for one night.  But, I will tell you this little tid bit of info….I have to go to Helms sale on Saturday morning.  I need wethers and I know that there will be a need for a driver to get me home.  Why?  The beer?  No!  I will eat so dang many potato burritos and tamales that I will be incapacitated until about Tuesday morning.  That is why they make plungers.  

     I got hacked!! Kelln Livestock got hacked by some dang computer hacker.  I think the chinese national’s hacked me.   I had been getting a lot of spam emails that involved chinese letters.  I couldn’t read them, otherwise, I might have known that I was getting ready to get hacked.  Why would the chinese hack Kelln Livestock?  Well, there is lots of great information dispensed on this website and they wanted a piece of it.

     Irregardless of whomever hacked me, at least they didn’t hack into something more important than this useful blog.  For those concerned readers that asked “Are you mad and you quit your website?” or to those who asked, “Milligan finally had enough of your shit and pulled the plug on you didn’t he?”  The answer is no and no.  Julie has us back up and running and Kelln Livestock has a clean bill of health.  

     Speaking of getting hacked.  Who hacked into the weather for the past couple of weeks?  It has been unseasonably cool and some are wet.  We got 1.3″ last night.  Others have had over 10″ in the past week.  No complaints.  A year ago, it was about 110.  Today, 92 and humid with mud.  I’m fine with it.  

Stay flexible, but not limp!  Have a good day.

     I like taking a trip.  Let’s not confuse a trip with a vacation.  I don’t like being gone for extended periods of time. I’m almost always fine with a day or two. Three, four or five days turns into a logistical nightmare.  Who will feed?  Who will do it right?  What if something goes wrong?  However, they can be one in the same.  It just depends.  

     I’ve had some really good trips that didn’t involve ashphalt, planes or destinations.  However, once done, I had a positive attitude and loved life.  I’ve had vacations that made me want to fight.  Kind of like 5 star dining, it depends on the presentation and then, the taste of the actual food.

      The Dragon Lady doesn’t travel with me very often for several reasons.  1–She has other stuff going on.  2–She can’t leave her work.  3–She can stay home & take care of almost any problems.  4–There are kids involved and she handles that stuff way better than I do.  5–A stock show is a trip to me, a job for her.  According to her, if it involves an animal, it isn’t a trip or vacation.   

     Sometimes, a trip consists of an overnighter kind of deal, but it falls together just right, where my mind is cleansed, no worries, and I come home refreshed.  Other times, I had to leave the country to get right.

      I’ve had good trips to find one doe kid and Staats forgot his clothes, toothbrush, etc.  It worked out OKAY as the little place in Eldorado had a rusty razor and somebody elses’ fruit of the looms hanging in the bath.  

     We just recently got back from Boston.  Good trip.  Good vacation.  I would go back.  I actually would recommend that all Americans go to Boston.  The history is off the charts.  It is similar to Washington DC.  Except, that DC is loaded with monuments that make you go “Ooohh Snapp!”  On the other hand, dangt neart every corner in Boston has a historical happening.  One of those, “this brick marks the spot kind of deal”.    Stuff that they don’t put in the history books.  You know, the good stuff.  Boston is where it actually all started.  DC is where the politicians spent tax dollars building really cool stuff.  

Top 5 trips

5–Atlanta–had a really good trip as an ag teacher with a really good group of fellow ag teachers.  It involves a Hungarian taxi driver, blue shaded sunglasses, bird cages, dogs, cab rides, mountains, the Emancipation Proclamation, piano bars, the BEST auquarium that I have seen to date, chop sticks, lobster & wine.  Did I mention the cab rides?

4–1 Day goat trip(s)–Staats & I drive south and came home with All Jacked Up and a painted up wether that his daughter wins Tulsa with.  Drove hard, fast and came home.  Succesfull.    Thompson, Poe and I buying a wether in Sonora and driving home that night.  Got out of the ticket.  The goat won Tulsa.  Fred, Thompson and I backing out of buying bucks (191) and buying wethers (OYE grand).  I’ve got a pile of these kind of stories.  

3–Gosney, Mitchell and I buying boars in a blizzard.  This story takes some time, but is way fun.  Electric Pants.  Hogs with Sweaters.  Amish Beards.  Bad transmission.  Burger King crown.  This one is off the charts.

2–Phoenix–I’ve got several.  Kela was on one of them.  Duke the other.  Big fun.  Long way from home.  

2a–Vegas–There are a couple.  One with Poe, Fred, Thompson, myself and a rhino.  Another that involves more people.  

1–Costa Rica–I was useless.  No phone.  No computer.  My wife & daughter told Duke and I what to do next.  I didn’t argue.  It was awesome.  Great food.  Geat relaxation.  Great fishing.  Monkeys, squirrels, iguanas.  Is it time to retire?  I’m going back.

Here’s to wishing a stellar trip or vacation to each of you.  

I need to get west of Fredericksburg pretty quick.  I might have a new trip story later this week. 

     Happiness is that time of the month when you don’t have to worry about bills being in the mailbox.  It makes one happy to find checks in the mail.  True happiness are checks in the bank.

     Another form of happiness in my world–no more goats to band this year, no more goats to dehorn this year.  Only one more set to wean.  Then the feed bill drops–does on pasture–not on hay and feed.

Where else but an airport can a person lie down anywhere, use luggage for pillows, wear anything as long it is comfortable & you aren’t naked & spend piles on magazines & other crap you normally wouldn’t buy? We had a large time at Fenway. Red Sox/Yankees- the best rivalry in sports. Great night for a ball game. We watched BP and came close to getting a ball– it took a bad hop to the right of Duke. Lots of team spirit involved with the Red Sox. They are die hards. It’s a good thing that I don’t live in a big city for numerous reasons. 1–I would be like Norm on Cheers & have a permanent barstool & 2– I would be broke because it costs an ass-load to attend these games. People think showing is expensive. These tickets in right-centerfield cost $125 apiece. Beer–$8.50 per cup. Water (or watah–as they say it in Boston) is $4.25 per bottle . Throw in hot dogs at $5, peanuts @$6 & cotton candy. We didn’t learn any work ethic or make new friends. But It was fun & well worth it, but it adds up. Sure I could have done without a couple of the beers, but that would be like showing a common goat. Spend the extra & have fun.

Saw some cool historical stuff. Took a duck tour around the city & in the harbor. The USS Consitution, aka “Old Ironsides” is pretty cool to see. They also have a neat aquarium that has a heck of a penguin exhibit. I asked the ticket taker if penguin’s were on the menu. She laughed & said , “Sure.” She then realized that I meant to eat. I think a lot of taxi drivers are from Morroco. In fact, all of the drivers we’ve had were from Morroco. I like talking to cab drivers. I think that if you speak English as your primary language, then you are probably a minority. Even in America. I think a lot of people don’t think &/or just don’t know. We were in a frozen yogurt bar. It was a very popular place. The sign proudly proclaimed that “all of their yogurt was made from cows that didn’t have any icky hormones.” I looked at the crowd & wondered just how many of the women were taking birth control pills that contained “icky” hormones. There was a same-sex couple with a kid. I’m sure that there was not any hormones used in that deal. I listened to a chick talk to her friends about her vegan diet. She got her a cup of frozen yogurt & then topped it with gummy bears. Hhmm? I ‘m sure that there wasn’t any collagen used in the production of those gummy bears. I mean, heck, the yogurt itself came from cows. Just random thoughts from Boston.

I’m currently on a journey. Not gone looking for goats, but supposedly on a vacation. I told the Dragon Lady that I want to go somewhere that is cooler than Nw Ok. that worked out well as it is cool & wet at home & hot as heck here. I’m not sure if I’m having fun yet, but have seen some cool stuff. Fenway Park and a few other parts of Boston. Found a good Reuben for lunch. Had a chive t-shirt on today. Got a chive on from a stewardess on the plane & from a Boston cop. Better yet, we stopped in to a pub by Fenway and some stranger bought Tammy & I a beverage, walked over & said “Nice shirt. Chive on.” I’m sure I will get to see some historical stuff tomorrow. There will be a lobster dinner in the near future. Friday night– Red Sox\Yankees. Haven’t seen any goats yet, but I bet I can find it on a menu.

     I don’t know who did it.  I know that it has racial overtones.  I also realize that people lost their lives in the crash.  I know that it is not politically correct.  But I also know that it is dang funny.  If you haven’t seen it, then you need to…the you tube video of the San Francisco news station reporting the names of the pilots of the Asiana airlines flight 214.  The news lady reports the names with all seriousness.  How she didn’t clue in is beyond me.

     I’m sure somebody at the NTSB is in deep crap over this and whoever typed it on the teleprompter is probably canned also.  But, wow, they’ve got a story.  The news station has ran aoplogies and corrections.  Rush Limbaugh wants to hire whoever is responsible.  

The names as originally reported were:  Captiain Sum Ting Wong,  Wi Tu Lo,  Ho Lee Fuk & Bang Ding Ow.

It’s wrong, but it is way funny.

     One of the most unenjoyable livestock management practices is the burning of horns.  It isn’t fun, it is a pain in the ass and it doesn’t always work.  There are times when I just know that I screwed one up and the head stays smooth and never has scurs.  Other times, I’ve smoked one and I just know that it was done right.  A month later, scurs and nubs start to appear.

      There are numerous ways to burn horns.  I use a box that I can put the kid inside and close the lid.  The kids will be about 2 weeks old.  Any older and they won’t fit in the box.  Only their head is sticking out.  This makes the animal easy to control.  The horn burner MUST be hot.  I think that some people don’t properly allow the iron to heat up.  I hold the burner over the horn burner about 13 seconds.  Then I knock the horn cap off and then burn it for another 13-15 seconds.  It is better to burn too long, then not enough.  Then I do the next horn.  I spray alu-shield on the burnt spots when I’m done.  This helps cool and protect the area.  Too many people are afraid to burn the horns properly.  I haven’t killed one yet.  Although, I do have a story of a goat “dying” and Fred did mouth-to-mouth and brought it back to life.  

     I think a common mistake is not letting the iron re-heat in between goats. Duke and I will do a wether, then another wether, then go catch a few does and vaccinate them.  This lets the iron re-heat properly.  

     Some breeders try a new technique and it doesn’t work and it takes a year or two to perfect the new technique.  I bought a large set last year that developed issues.  This year, we aren’t seeing any regrowth so far.  Some, year in and year out, you just know that there will be a horn issue.  They just have so many goats, that some just don’t get done right.  There has been breeders that knew that a given goat was a great one, so they were nervous burning the horns.  Thus, there would be a dang good goat with nasty scurs.  

     Then, there are new breeders that don’t know what they are doing and you end up with a wicked set of antlers re-growing out of their head.  I recently bought a set of 5 wethers that were about 4 weeks old.  The horns had just recently been burnt.  I knew that there would be some scurs.  The goats got delivered to me about a month later.  No scurs.  They were FULL BLOWN horns.  Oh crap!  We scheduled cosmo jobs for all 5.  That hasn’t work out to well.  The added cost and loss means that I am now losing money on this project.  

     Sometimes, it takes 3 or 4 months to realize that there is going to be a horn/scur problem.  Our crew is pretty proficient at keeping scurs ground down and keeping them presentable.  We also take the bad cases to a vet to get cosmetically done.  This adds cost to a project and sets the goat back.  There are times that I have just decided not to buy/bid on a goat because it was obvious that there was going to be horn problems.  As a breeder, when somebody has a goat from me that needs a cosmo job, I help them schedule it and will pay for it.  It was my screw up, why should the kid have to add expense to their project.  I don’t have to do many, but it does happen.  Sometimes, you realize, a little too late that your horn burner is not heating up as hot as it should.  Time to get a new one.  

     Point being, if you are a new breeder, get help to learn how to do it properly.  If you sell goats and some of your goats develop issues, find out if you are doing something wrong.  Correct the problem.