Fainting Goats

These goats are also  known as stiff legged, nervous, wooden legged, and Tennessee fainting goats. Myotonic goat is the most accurate term. The goats have a gene that causes their muscles to stiffen when they are startled, called myotonia. The goats do not lose consciousness when they faint, and will continue chewing food when they are down. The "faint" lasts 10-20 seconds and they get up and are on there way again. As goats get older, some will learn to brace themselves and "lock-up"  remaining standing during the myotonic episode. 

We use our goats as 4H show projects for the kids and companions for the pony. They are also a big help in cleaning up the wild grape, brambles and poison ivy overgrown on our property. 

Links

TL Nickolas    1/25/03

Nick is our  fainting wether.  He makes a good trail show goat. He will jump on, walk under, and balance on all the obstacles without hesitation!

Nickolas in full faint

TL Fiona  or Fifi      1/3/04

Fiona is our house raised fainting doeling. She was given to us at 2 days old in January 2004. She shared the house with us for almost 3 months. She thinks she is part person and will still come in the back door to see us when she is eating outside of the fence. 

Fifi's "down" photo

This picture was a hard one to get. Fifi is so used to us that it was hard to get her to faint.  My son driving his electric Gator finally did the trick.

Nickolas

Nickolas at the 4H fair in the Trail class with my daughter. He walked the whole beam with out falling off. He was willing to do every obstacle.

Raven 6/5/06

Raven is a pretty doeling with white spots on each side and a white topknot. She has a light brown/black "B" type fleece with some white. She is an F1 "myogora" 1/2 fainter and 1/2 angora. She has marbled blue eyes. 

Dam: Fiona       Sire: Terrance

"A prudent man does not make a goat his gardener." Hungarian Proverb