GMO, Genetically Modified Organisms, have been in the spotlight again in recent months. Monsantos, the leader of GMO seeds, cites study after study, showing the safety of GMO crops.
GMO seeds are said to help with world hunger!  But how true are these studies?  Though the internet is abuzz with stars in the limelight, studies of the true hazards of GMO foods  is taking a back page in newspapers or in the media at large.  So how safe is GMO foods?

Milk......yummy.....who doesn't have fond memories of cookies and milk?  Or the school field trip to the farm?  You've dreamed of having fresh, raw milk for a long time, haven't you?  Pictures of homemade cheese floating in and out of your daily lives.   Homemade soap maybe?  YES!

Now you have the chance! Yes!  There's a milking doe for sale right now!  As you dream of having your own herd to  milk, have you thought about udders yet?  You've probably heard the terms: fore udder, rear attachments, milk in pounds, & probably even udder sizes.  But really, what does all that mean?  Medial, Escutcheon, Supernumerary, Pendulous?  What? So the udder is huge!  Lots of milk you think........ but does udder size matter? How do you know you're getting a good milking goat?  There is more to a good milking goat than the udder, but for now let's talk about that magical goat milk dispenser.  

Recently after asking about our closed herd policy, someone asked some very good questions.  The most specific focus of their questions were, how do we quarantine - what exactly does that mean and what steps do we use? 
 
Choosing a closed herd policy is a decision that can cause frustration and concern.  How safe is  safe?  When talking about having closed herds, people need to understand why it's important and understand how some bugs and diseases are spread.

We've discussed some goat diseases before: CL, CAE, Johnes,&
Bangs.  We call them the fatal four.  Why? Because any one of
these would mean a culling for our goats, as there is no cure for any of these fatal four.  We won't go into great detail here, but we will go over  some basics on the transmission of these diseases.

Often in chat groups over the counter treatments are recommended for this situation or that.  Do they work? Yes, in a way. Pepto Bismol and Milk of Magnesia are two we hear of quite
often.  But...........always the buts.  Are they the right thing to
use for our goat kiddies?

So, you've decided to clamp your bucklings, great!  Now, what do you look for?   How do you tell if your kids are uncomfortable? How do you know it  worked? 

Having quite a few people ask us these same questions.  We are hoping to have a video for you by the end of August showing the
procedure, but until then, let's share our experiences with those same questions.

Food...........for thousands of years it has nourished us, provided or  us, and sustained us.  Growing food  has provided a livelihood for farmers for generations.  Life's dance flows through the cycle of growth, the very gift of life  growing in the plants that feeds a nation, feeds the world. 

Man's greed for control, covered under the guise of humanitarian aid  has brought real food dangerously close to extinction.  What am I talking about?  This crazy conspirator who's writing you now read?  GMO  - Genetically Modified Organisms, you know.....soy, corn, sugar beets, cotton, alfalfa, and now even salmon!   Also   known as genetically engineered.