bio security was raw milk

[Guest guest]

<<<< Dennis,

I met a lady who milks a couple of goats and she said that she is

extremely careful to not allow one of her goats to leave the premises and

come back (to the fair or whatever) because of foreign bacteria. She has

" barn boots " that don't go anywhere but in the barn...so as not to track in

foreign bacteria into her goats. Does this sound overly cautious?

Sonja >>>

H I Sonja,

I'm not Dennis, but I maybe I can shed a little light. People with

livestock are becoming more and more cautious due to the European hoof and

mouth outbreak and the possibility of biological terrorism. Even during

ordinary times, it's very easy to transport any number of diseases from one

farm to another on your clothing or shoes. I am part of a fiber arts guild

and many of us have fiber animals. As a common courtesy whenever we visit

each others farms, we use what is called bio security precautions. Some of

us (not me) even have bio-security signs posted at the beginning of the

driveway. We wear shoes or boots that have been somewhat sterilized (thus

the need for rubber boots or clogs), clean clothes and have recently bathed.

Upon returning home we walk straight to the washer, strip and wash. A number

of very large fiber art events have recently been cancelled or altered to be

extra careful at this time in particular. The Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair

in NC usually exhibits and shows a large number of fiber animals, but last

year they opted out of that part of the fair. They may reinstitute it this

year as last I heard the hoof and mouth problem is subsiding somewhat. Other

events require you to step in a pan with newspapers soaked in bleach before

you can view the animals. No, your friend is not overly cautious. It's a

good sign that she is aware of this problem and being careful. She must love

her goats very much.

Carmen