Fainting Goat

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.

Description of the Fainting Goat

Like all goats, these creatures have hooves on their feet, with two primary “toes” rather than a single hoof like that of a horse. Many also have a pair of horns. This breed comes in a variety of different colors and patterns. They grow between 17 and 25 in. tall at the shoulder, and weigh between 60 and 175 lbs. or so.

Interesting Facts About the Fainting Goat

This interesting breed of goat has a number of unique traits and behaviors. Learn more about what makes them different, below.

• Fainting Behavior – The first thing you’ll notice about this breed is that they “faint.” When surprised, individuals stiffen up and fall over. This is not a true “faint,” as the goats do not lose consciousness.
• The Mechanics – These goats “faint” because of a genetic disorder known as Myotonia congenita. To put it simply, this disorder causes the muscles to contract and stiffen when something frightens the animal.
• Why Fainting Goats? – Hypothetically, you wouldn’t want to breed a goat with a genetic disorder, so why have breeders continued this line of goats? Farmers originally kept this breed as a “sacrificial lamb.” If a predator attacks a herd of expensive farm animals, it will eat the Myotonic goat because the goat is easy prey, saving the farmer money.
• Modern Purpose – Nowadays, people tend to keep this breed as a novelty. They raise them as pets, and breed them to maintain the fainting behavior. Some individuals “faint” more than others.

Habitat of the Fainting Goat

This breed came from other fully domestic goats. People domesticated those goats many years ago. They have always lived in manmade habitats.

Generally, people keep these goats on farmland or pasture with plenty of grass and shrubbery to eat. However, some also keep them in forests, mountainous regions, marshes, woodlands, and more.

Distribution of the Fainting Goat

The original ancestors of this breed came from Tennessee. You can trace their ancestry back to a single herd of goats. The breed quickly garnered popularity and interest, spreading across the state and throughout the nation. Now, you can find this breed in various regions of the world.

Diet of the Fainting Goat

Like all goats, this breed has herbivorous feeding habits. They will eat a wide variety of different plants. Unlike horses and sheep, goats do not only graze on grass, but browse on just about any plant. This means that their diet contains grass, shrubs, leaves, bushes, and virtually any edible plant matter.

Fainting Goat and Human Interaction

Like any domestic breed, this goat would not exist without human interaction. Farmers have used this breed historically to protect more expensive livestock. When the Fainting Goat falls over, the predator attacks them and leaves the more valuable livestock. Now people also keep them as pets, breed them, and use their meat.

Domestication

The original ancestors of this breed came from other domestic goats. A farmer in Tennessee had a herd of goats with this genetic deformity. From this herd, people continued to breed the goats to expand the genetics. Breeders select goats with the strongest “fainting” behavior to reproduce.

Does the Fainting Goat Make a Good Pet

Yes, this breed of goat can make a wonderful pet, but they are not house pets. Properly socialized individuals have a friendly demeanor. If you keep this breed, you must provide ample space and pasture for them to graze and exercise, medical care, and shelter from the elements. You should do your research before purchasing any pet.

Fainting Goat Care

All goat breeds have social behavior, and you must house them in groups. They need plenty of space to exercise and forage for food, and you should provide them with additional hay or grain to supplement their diet. Additionally, this breed in particular can fall prey to predators quite easily, and you must have secure fencing to keep them safe.

Behavior of the Fainting Goat

The most notable feature of this breed’s behavior is its propensity to “faint.” When frightened, be it by a person, dog, loud noise, or unknown object, the goat’s muscles stiffen and some even fall over. Some individuals have a stronger reaction to a frightening stimulus, while others have a less severe reaction.

Reproduction of the Fainting Goat

Though females reach sexual maturity at just a few months old, you should not breed them until they reach about six to nine months of age. Males reproduce with multiple females. After mating, the gestation period lasts about five months. The females give birth to two or three offspring, known as “kids.” A single female can breed every six months.