Because myotonic goats “faint” when startled, they were essentially used as a sacrificed animal to protect the more expensive members of the herd in case a wolf, coyote, or bear approached the pasture. As the story goes, goat owner John Tinsley was traveling through the United States from Nova Scotia and he sold a few of his stiff legged goats to some farmers in Tennessee. ‘Now that’s why I call them fainting goats.’ We spent a couple of quality hours looking over the gentleman’s herd and talking with him as he explained about Tennessee Fainting Goats and their myotonic condition. Goats on a Pennsylvania farm are drawing attention because of a special trait - they faint. Myotonia congenita is associated with dense, meaty muscles, and as a result myotonic goats have one of the highest meat-to-bone ratios of any goat breed. While size has and does vary, ethical breeders have never resorted to crossing to decrease or increase size, but have instead worked within the breed to achieve a purebred that fits different desires across breeders. Not all fainting or myotonic goats experience this condition in the same way. It differs from goat to goat, their age, the water, and taurine (an amino acid). If you want to know more about them, check out the Myotonic Goat Registry link in our menu. Twins are usual and triplets are not uncommon. They're also known as myotonic, stiff-legged, nervous or wooden-leg goats. Additionally, these goats typically have upright, horizontal ears, a concave profile with a defined eyebrow ridge, and the trademark buggy eyes that give them an endearing face. These goats have a different ear set that is longer, wider, and sometimes will lie against the head. The above characteristics could be passed off as somewhat "cosmetic" aspects of the breed, but these traits are an important reflection of breed type and breed purity. While some prefer the smoother goats, the shaggy ones are very resistant to inclement weather and are preferred by some breeders for this trait. The meat is consistently praised for tenderness, which at first thought might seem at variance with the stiffness encountered while the goat is alive. The disorder is caused by a missense mutation of the CLCN1 gene that reduces chloride ion conductance in the chloride channels of muscle fibers . The characteristic stiffening has given rise to a number of names for this breed: fainting, nervous, stiff-leg, wooden-leg, scare and myotonic. Most breeders of these goats use the forage-based system, so few of these goats are pushed with high concentrate diets or creep feeding. Since it doesn't actually faint, the animal is properly known as the myotonic goat. These myotonic (or "fainting") goats aren't really fainting. faints lasts for about 10 seconds. They have a wealth of information about the health and history of these goats. They never actually lose consciousness. This strain of livestock are properly called Myotonic goats but they go by a number of common names, including: wooden leg goats, Tennessee fainting goats, stiff leg goats, and nervous goats. They get their name from a genetic condition called myotonia congenita , which causes their muscles to briefly stiffen after they are startled. Those with four and five kids have a challenge which few does can meet and some of those kids need to be supplemented. Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience . ... Outback Fainters Church Hill, Tennessee 37642, United States Cell 423-578-4235 Despite their common name, "fainting goats" do not actually faint at all. A Fainted Myotonic Goat Characteristics of Fainting Goats By sheer coincidence, I began acquiring Myotonic goats in January 1990, raising them and improving the breed, only later to learn that the original Texas herd of Myotonic goats resided on … 18 Why Do Myotonic Goats Faint? But when these goats first appeared in Tennessee in the 1880s, breeders had an incentive to keep them the way they were. This is the beginning of the breed, although the ultimate origin of them is likely to always remain a mystery. These goats are called by various lay terms: Tennessee fainting goats (incorrect, because they don't 'faint,' i.e. The significance of this for meat production is that these goats simply have more muscle for their weight than do other goats. Are they just klutzes? All results are preliminary, but suggestions from Virginia State University are that the meat to bone ratio in myotonic goats is about 4:1, compared with other types and breeds of goats at 3:1. Slightly smaller than standard breeds of the goat, fainting goats are generally 43 cm (17 in) to 64 cm (25 in) tall and can weigh anywhere from 2… Folks who have tried myotonic goats as well as other types of goats tend to rank the myotonic at the top of meat quality. Genetic? Reproductive function in the myotonic goats is good and they are highly maternal. Myotonic ‘fainting’ goats have a harmless condition called myotonia congenital that causes their muscles to freeze when they’re startled or excited, for about 10-15 seconds. They’re also known as wooden-leg goats, stiff-leg goats, scare goats, and other funny nicknames. They don't appear to have surfaced elsewhere in the world, but certainly must have originated somewhere. The myotonic goats are good foragers. For the breed to be useful it must protect its purity; this is the goal of the registries. Do Fainting goats really Faint? Myotonic goats are known by many colorful names such as Nervous goats, Wooden-Leg, Fainting goats, Tennessee Myotonic and the Tennessee goats. High Oak Farm highoakfarm.com Fainting goats, if properly cared for, will live from 10 to 18 years, the same lifespan as most other breeds of goat. The reason for this unusual habit is a congenital disease, myotonia congenita, more commonly known as Thomsen’s disease. Many of the does reproduce nonseasonally and some have kidded at six-month intervals. Hair coat varies from very short and smooth, to very long and shaggy. The condition with which these goats and several other animals, including mice, dogs, cats, horses, water buffalo, and pigs are affected is called myotonia, which is a medical term for muscle stiffness. Fainting goats have a genetic condition known as Congenital myotonia which causes their muscles to instantly contract when suddenly startled or excited. The breed that has found fame for falling over is aptly called the Tennessee fainting goat. Why Fainting Goats "Faint" All fainting goats have an inherited muscle condition called myotonia congenita or Thomsen's disease. People have been “improving” these goats for years, trying to get the market to support the breed with no sucess. Have you got a Big Question you'd like us to answer? The ears are medium sized, and usually held horizontally. Selecting a Goat. Fecundity and milk production in the does are good. This is how fainting goats came to be named “myotonic” goats — myo from Greek, meaning muscle, and tonus from Latin, meaning tension. they don't lose consciousness), wooden leg, stiff-leg, nervous, or scare goats. The goats do not truly “faint” in any sense of the word, as they never lose While not truly a faint, the name "fainter" was long ago chosen by some of the registries to indicate the condition and is a name that has stuck. Myotonic doe reproductive efficiency is excellent and they have great mothering instincts. Myotonic goats were introduced to the United States in the 1880s. It's a neuromuscular disorder, in which the skeletal muscles (used for movement) have a delayed ability to relax after being voluntarily contracted. Fainting Goats, or myotonic goats due to the disease they have, are a domestic goat that appears to faint when the animal becomes panicked. Most myotonic goats are horned, although many are polled (hornless) and some breeders select specifically for polled goats. The slide. The head and body conformation traits all go together to define the "type" of this breed, and are an important reflection of purity and utility. Myotonia acts as an isometric exercise for their muscles, such as … ContentsWhy Do Fainting Goats Faint?Characteristics of Fainting Goats The fainting goat breed is known by several different names. Why Fainting Goats Do What They Do D. Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD Fainting goats have a muscle condition, which is called myotonia congenita Fainting goats should display some degree of the myotonic faint. Despite the name "fainting goats", they do not faint at all. Colours are extremely variable, although some breeders select for a limited range of colours. The labourer, Tinsley, worked in the area for few years and then moved on. Myotonic Goats were listed on the American Livestock Breed Conservancy as rare with a estimated world population of less than 10,000 before recently being listed as recovering. The goat’s muscles continue to contract for about 10 to 20 seconds after it’s startled, which is where the fainting part of its name comes in. The unique myotonic breed first enters historical note in the 1880s, when a farm labourer arrived in the middle of Tennessee with four of these goats and a zebu cow in tow. When compared with other common breeds, the myotonic goats appear to hold their own in keeping parasites at bay. The most striking characteristic of the myotonic goat is the condition of myotonia congenita, a condition frequently misunderstood by breeders as well as by folks unfamiliar with the breed. Myotonic means when they are frightened or excited they "lock up" and often fall over (faint) and lie very stiff for a few seconds. The entire range of hair types occur in most strains, including old foundation strains. As popularity increased, it became prudent to have registries to track the breed and its breeding. The fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) that stiffens when startled. They all carry the recessive gene for Myotonia Congenita. The labourer, Tinsley, worked in the area for few years and then moved on. by Janet Garman 23 Pregnant Goat Care by Kate Johnson 28 Photo Essay Pack Goat Rendezvous ON THE COVER Summer, from the farm Andy’s Acres in … The myotonic goat has much to offer meat goat producers interested in a well-adapted goat for a low-input forage based system. They were easy to fence in because they jump and climb poorly, if at all. This alone makes them unique among goats. Distinctly, their head and body formation tends to be different. Myotonia congenita is a medical condition that is strictly muscular and causes the muscles to become rigid when the goat is startled, moves suddenly or steps over a low barrier. The Fainting Goats at Black Walnut Farm are registered with the Myotonic Goat Registry. The Fainting goats have shorter ears with an ear set held horizontal and forward. They have an inherited muscle condition referred to myotonia congenita. Fainting Goats get their name because of a genetic condition called myotonia congenita. Fainting also could be cause for concern in humans and some other animals. Myotonic Goats This breed originated in Tennessee and is sometimes referred to as the nervous goat, wooden legged goat or fainting goat. Newborn fainting goat at a farm. Myotonic goats are known as “fainting goats” because when something surprises or frightens them, their muscles go stiff for a short time, and they fall over! Many ascribe this to it being a particular breed of goat prone to fainting. Due to a … These phenomenal meat goats are perfect for the small family farm. Usually the animal stays awake and […] The Myotonic goats have some totally different characteristics than the Fainting goats do. Fainting also could be cause for concern in humans and some other animals. The goat doesn’t actually faint though. Theyre also known as wooden-leg goats, stiff-leg goats, scare goats, and other funny nicknames. The goat doesn’t actually faint though. The most accurate common name is stiff-leg, but the correct breed name is Myotonic. The meat of fainting goats is tender and tasty. They don't actually faint (become unconscious) at all. The condition with which these goats are affected is known as myotonia congenita. While the Myotonic goats are a very nice breed of goat, they should not be confused with the original Fainting goats. It is an over-simplification, but the chemicals which are rushed to humans' muscles and joints to prepare them for "fight or flight" are withheld in the Myotonic under exciting or frightful circumstances. Myotonic goats are known by many names (Myotonic, Tennessee Fainting, Texas Meat, Texas Wooden Leg, etc). In myotonic goat faints lasts for about 10 seconds. A slow maturing Fainting Goat is not the anwser and neither is “improving” the Fainting Goat and calling it a Myotonic goat for a meat goat. With myotonic goats, medical care is much easier, because they tend to stiffen and become immobile for ~20 Water. Fainting involves losing consciousness briefly due to lack of oxygen in the brain. Many colour combinations do occur in these goats. Here are ten side-splitting myotonic goat videos that show different things fainting goats found faint-worthy. They enjoy browsing but are less agile climbers than non-myotonic goats and so tend to be not so rough on the landscape. Myotonic goats are known as “fainting goats” because when something surprises or frightens them, their muscles go stiff for a short time, and they fall over! They are active in seeking out their own food and are efficient with winter feed. Fainting involves losing consciousness briefly due to lack of oxygen in the brain. When they fall, however, the goats aren't passing out from fright. Why Do Fainting Goats Faint? Sneaking up on them has become a pastime among some goat owners, but don’t feel too bad next time a fainting goat compilation pops up in your feed: The reaction isn’t supposed to be harmful or painful for goats—it’s likely just annoying. What this looks like in the body is a sudden tensing of the skeleton muscles—the brain's cue to get ready to move—followed by an immediate relaxing of the muscles, allowing the body to either rush forward or flee the scene. The myotonia congenita goes hand in glove with heavy muscling. The fainting goats kind of make me sad because it was basically a gene perpetuated by farmers who wanted sacrificial goats. A Fainting Goat, also known as Tennessee Fainting Goat or Myotonic goat, is a unique breed of domestic goat.Domestic goats are a subspecies of the wild goat (Capra aegagrus), and all of the various breeds share the same species.This breed, is best known for its propensity to “faint.” Read on to learn about the Fainting Goat. Not all goats faint. 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