Fainting goat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when
the goat is startled. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its side.
The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita. When
startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean
against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-
legged shuffle.
Slightly smaller than standard breeds of goat, fainting goats are generally 43 to 64 centimeters
(17 to 25 in) tall and can weigh anywhere from 27 to 79 kilograms (50 to 175 lb). They have large,
prominent eyes in high sockets. Their hair can be short or long, with certain individuals
producing a great deal of cashmere during colder months. There appears to be no angora
strain of the fainting goat. Common coat colors are black and white; however, most possible
coat colors are found in this breed. Their life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.[1]
The origin of the fainting goat is peculiar. The goats appear to have arrived in Marshall County,
Tennessee, in the early 1800s, courtesy of a reclusive farm worker named Jon Tinsley who was
most likely from Nova Scotia. Before he left the area, he sold his goats — three does and a buck
— to Dr. H.H. Mayberry, who bred them.
Fainting goats have many other names, including Myotonic Goats, Tennessee (Meat) Goats,
Nervous Goats, Stiff-leg Goats, Wooden-leg Goats, and Tennessee Scare Goats. They are
smaller and somewhat easier to care for and maintain than larger meat goat breeds, which
makes the fainting goat desirable for smaller farms. They are also raised as pet or show animals
as they can be friendly, intelligent, easy to keep, and amusing.
Classified as a meat goat as opposed to a dairy goat, it can be raised for chevon (goat meat).
This breed is listed as threatened by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy so the
fainting goat is not used as often for chevon as other meat goat breeds; its rarity makes the
live goat more valuable.[2] The fainting goat is specifically specialized for smaller production
operations as they are unable to challenge fences as vigorously as larger meat goat breeds.
This is due in part to their smaller size and also because of the myotonia. Their size makes them
easier to care for during chores such as foot trimming and administering medication. Smaller
specimens of fainting goats are frequently kept as pets.
Besides the myotonia, another distinguishing feature of the fainting goat is their prominently
set eyes. The eyes protrude from the eye sockets, as opposed to recessed eyes seen in other
breeds. The profile is straight as opposed to the convex or "roman" profile.
It is theorized that fainting goats were used by their handlers during travel for protecting other
livestock (such as sheep) from predators by involuntarily "sacrificing themselves" due to their
condition. This allowed the handlers and livestock to escape. However, while there are records
of goats being transported with livestock in earlier times, there is no proof that these goats
suffered from myotonia nor that they were used for such a purpose.
Even though some people breed these animals for pets, "fainting" is a disorder that most
producers try to keep out of their flocks bloodlines, unless they are raising fainting goats.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when
the goat is startled. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its side.
The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita. When
startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean
against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-
legged shuffle.
Slightly smaller than standard breeds of goat, fainting goats are generally 43 to 64 centimeters
(17 to 25 in) tall and can weigh anywhere from 27 to 79 kilograms (50 to 175 lb). They have large,
prominent eyes in high sockets. Their hair can be short or long, with certain individuals
producing a great deal of cashmere during colder months. There appears to be no angora
strain of the fainting goat. Common coat colors are black and white; however, most possible
coat colors are found in this breed. Their life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.[1]
The origin of the fainting goat is peculiar. The goats appear to have arrived in Marshall County,
Tennessee, in the early 1800s, courtesy of a reclusive farm worker named Jon Tinsley who was
most likely from Nova Scotia. Before he left the area, he sold his goats — three does and a buck
— to Dr. H.H. Mayberry, who bred them.
Fainting goats have many other names, including Myotonic Goats, Tennessee (Meat) Goats,
Nervous Goats, Stiff-leg Goats, Wooden-leg Goats, and Tennessee Scare Goats. They are
smaller and somewhat easier to care for and maintain than larger meat goat breeds, which
makes the fainting goat desirable for smaller farms. They are also raised as pet or show animals
as they can be friendly, intelligent, easy to keep, and amusing.
Classified as a meat goat as opposed to a dairy goat, it can be raised for chevon (goat meat).
This breed is listed as threatened by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy so the
fainting goat is not used as often for chevon as other meat goat breeds; its rarity makes the
live goat more valuable.[2] The fainting goat is specifically specialized for smaller production
operations as they are unable to challenge fences as vigorously as larger meat goat breeds.
This is due in part to their smaller size and also because of the myotonia. Their size makes them
easier to care for during chores such as foot trimming and administering medication. Smaller
specimens of fainting goats are frequently kept as pets.
Besides the myotonia, another distinguishing feature of the fainting goat is their prominently
set eyes. The eyes protrude from the eye sockets, as opposed to recessed eyes seen in other
breeds. The profile is straight as opposed to the convex or "roman" profile.
It is theorized that fainting goats were used by their handlers during travel for protecting other
livestock (such as sheep) from predators by involuntarily "sacrificing themselves" due to their
condition. This allowed the handlers and livestock to escape. However, while there are records
of goats being transported with livestock in earlier times, there is no proof that these goats
suffered from myotonia nor that they were used for such a purpose.
Even though some people breed these animals for pets, "fainting" is a disorder that most
producers try to keep out of their flocks bloodlines, unless they are raising fainting goats.
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