In 2000 we heard about the recessive gene called, mucopolysaccharidosis IIID or G-6-Sulfase deficiency, now commonly known as G6S.

In 2001 we began testing for this recessive gene. We made the decision to continue testing and to work with G6S rather then wipe it out in our herd along with the irreplaceable genetics of our G6S carriers.

12 years ago there was much fear and ignorance over G6S. A few people didn’t quite understand the difference between a disease and a recessive genetic disorder that only added to the fear and the spread of ignorance from lack of knowledge or understanding. As the fear spread, it created a double-edged sword in having a test readily and easily available for this relatively new yet manageable discovery in the goat world.
A lot of irreplaceable genetics were destroyed out of fear in discovering carriers through testing, along with all the good that has resulted over the years from having the test available. It can and it most likely will be argued until the goats come in whether it was a good thing or a bad thing destroying carriers and entire kid crops out of carriers.   

12 years later the strives ahead we’ve made over the years have flourished in successes and great accomplishments out of that decision we made to work with the recessive G6S gene. Our personal decision to not rip apart our genetics has been nothing less then a huge success for our herd. Not once have we regretted our decision to work with G6S. I am most grateful we chose to save our carriers rather then destroy them. We avoided genetic genocide of our herd by facing the fear and ignorance of this gene head on. We learned G6S could be managed successfully with no fear of an unknown affected animal. 
Over the years Jacobs Pride has spent quite literally thousands of dollars in testing our buck kids at our personal expense as a courtesy to buyers. However the cost of testing has now risen to 48.00 per test, not including shipping. So in 2011 we made the hard decision to add an additional 50.00 onto the price of buck kids out of our carrier does to help defray the cost we chose to bear.

We do not test doelings unless requested by the buyer and only at the buyer's expense. Cost of the test is 48.00 and is to be paid directly to TVMDL plus the cost of shipping. We further do not make any price adjustment or refund regarding the cost of the test off the original price of the doeling, regardless of the doeling's status result.       
With this said I would like to express I have used known G6S carrier bucks on known G6S carrier does operating in the understanding we need to test the resulting offspring of carrier to carrier mating for the possibility of an affected animal.
SGCH. Jacobs Pride Pop Rock Candy 10*m aka; Poppy (G6S NORMAL) is the result of just one such planned mating. Poppy holds two consecutive L/A f/s of 92 with 4 consecutive “E” mammary and has produced one CH. daughter to date. Poppy’s dam, a G6S carrier, is a USDA-DHIR Elite Doe. Holds a title TOP TEN Breed Leader in all 3 categories; milk, butterfat and protein. Has earned a SGCH title and has produced 2 SGCH daughters (both accomplishing final L/A scores of 92 EEEE) & produced 3 SG offspring as well.
Poppy’s sire has sired *9* SGCH, *7* SG and one TOP TEN Breed Leader out of 61 offspring.  
Which one of these carrier parents would have been destroyed had a different approach been taken?
Would SGCH. Jacobs Pride Pop Rock Candy 10*m even be in existence herself had a different approach been taken regarding G6S?

I’m just saying, this is only one example regarding our decisions we've made concerning G6S.

How we each choose to manage our herds is our personal freedom to do so in the manner that is right for each of us. I would no sooner want anyone telling me what to do based on what they believe to be right to manage a herd anymore then I want to tell someone what they need to do to fit my standard of herd management.

It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to educate ourselves and choose our own herd management practices that best fits each of us.

Jacobs Pride along with many other breeders desire our buyers to be happy with each and every animal they invest in. We all work hard planning, breeding and investing in costly programs available such as linear appraising and DHIR to further prove our animals and our herds. Not to mention the blood, sweat and tears we pour into each and every kid, doe and buck, loving, feeding and caring for each and every one. A buyer's success is a breeder's success.   
  I would like to conclude with that this is how Jacobs Pride personally has chosen to address G6S, understanding this is still a very heated and debated issue. Everything stated above is solely my personal opinion on G6S and how we personally have chosen to handle it through the years.

I firmly and adamantly believe testing for G6S is *NOT* the responsibility of any breeder or that any breeder is to be held responsible to sell only normal animals. Because we have chosen to test our buck kids as a courtesy through the years in no way sets any standard for other breeders to do the same or should be expected of other breeders to do so. G6S is not a disease nor should it be viewed or treated as a disease that automatically infects and destroys every goat it comes in contact with.

Each and every breeder is entitled to their opinions and decisions how they choose or don’t choose to handle G6S. *Live and let live* is one of my mottos and * fear not! *

If something is important to you, Ask questions! It is no ones responsibility to think or assume for another.

It is each breeder’s personal choice regarding how they choose to deal with G6S and we have our freewill to do just that.

And most importantly, not to judge another when they differ from our own practices.

I personally believe this philosophy holds true far beyond the G6S issue of today. Again I say; “live and let live”