Earlier in this thread I posted some faces is all. I said I would like to comment but figured I shouldn't so I stay out of the line of fire. This topic is a lose, lose situation since everyone has their own opinion and I doubt anyone will change their opinion. Which is fine, as long as no one gets hurt in the process. Everyone should have and is entitled to their own opinion.
That said I want to commend ahiggins on another great post. You really seem like you have your ducks in a row down there in La.
Folks need to forget totally whether or not the industry needs to diversify itself. Forget whether or not you approve of all the "big guys" in the industry. Forget whether or not there is some "no name" doe out there who really produces well.
Bottom line is the bottom line. At the end of the day is your business in the black or in the red?
Some guys, and I am NOT saying those of you all posting here, but some guys do come on the forums and complain about how they aren't making any money in this business. But yet they don't run their farms like a business. It doesn't make business sense to try and reinvent the wheel. At least not until you have established yourself the way ahiggins said.
Do I play with crosses that are unknown to the industry? Yes.
Do I take those crosses and advertise them? No.
Do I try and sell them at the sales? No.
Why not? because it doesn't make business sense.
Will I stop playing with my own little crosses? No. Because I am a deer breeder. I breed deer based on specific factors that I look at. I do keep the current market trends in mind for the majority of what I do here, but I am first and foremost a deer breeder. I own 2 twin sisters who I feel are rock stars, but I don't talk about them because they don't pay the bills. I have other deer here who pay (or at least try to pay) the bills.
I would be very interested in seeing this buck number 5 you guys are talking about. In fact if he carries some breeding in him on the bottom side that matches with what I look for then I may be very interested in him. But will I be breeding him to my Updraft and Downdraft sister or my Bucky/Little Pebbles doe? Doubt it.
I have to make money in this business or go home. I can't afford to breed my best does, and yes my best "market" does to some unknown entity and hope I can defy the odds. I am just a small time guy fighting to make the best of it and have some fun trying.
I share an awful lot of the things we do here with pretty much everyone. Something I need to cut back on. But I enjoy raising deer and talking about deer.
I am a deer breeder.
I am a business man. All be it not the best business man, but still a business man I try to be
At the end of the day I try to be in the black and not in the red.
But first and foremost I am a
deer breeder.
