Fast Facts About Fainting Goats!
Fainting goats have a variety of names including: scare goats, myotonic goats, stiff-legged goats, or nervous goats. They originally came from Nova Scotia but they were first recorded in history, from Marshall County, TN, back in the 1880s. A man named, Tinsley moved to Marshall County, Tennessee bringing four goats and a cow. His goats showed nervous, strange, tendencies. When they became startled, their leg muscles would, temporarily, become rigid causing them to lose their balance and fall over!
When myotonia, (stiffening of the muscles) sets in, they may not, completely, loose their balance and fall over. Their knees may just buckle, instead. When placed in extreme stress or fear, their epinephrine and cortisol, (fight or flight hormones), cause increased muscle tension. Myotonia, actually, helps build more muscle!
These goat breeds were almost extinct by the 1980s but are now thriving throughout the world. Marshall County, Tennessee is named the “cradle” of the Myotonic goat. They have lived here for decades. Keep in mind that just because a goat faints does not mean it is a "Tennessee fainting goat". Know their other characteristics.
What characteristics do Fainting goats have? 
Their eyes are bulgy, set wide apart and vary in color. Eye colors vary from shades of brown to shades of deep or icy blue. Their eye placement gives their head a straight-forward type of profile. The nose is wider and more rounded than other breeds, not sharp or pointed. Their ears are medium in length. They may be straight, bend downward at the middle or bend downward and forward shading their eyes. They come in a variety of colors, with different markings and patterns. They have bodies with increased muscle mass due to the myotonic gene! They have a sturdy framework with bold face expressions. They are, generally, hardy, disease resistant and good mothers. Most wean their kids on their own.
They milk, generously, for about four months. They are slow to mature so extra care needs to be given when breeding these animals. They are not fully mature until four years old. They can live twelve to fifteen years or more with the proper goat care.
Here is a fun fact about these goats. Have you ever heard of the expression, “scapegoat”? Some scholars say, shepherds kept fainting goats with their flocks of sheep as insurance against predators. When wolves or other predatory animals would attack a flock of sheep, the goats would become startled and faint. The wolves or other predators focused so much on the stunned goats, the sheep were able to flee and escape. “Scapegoat” refers to the sheep that escaped with the help of the fainting goats! They are farm fun animals. They are very calm, proud and easily taught. Their sweet personalities will win your heart. We enjoy raising goats, here, at Spencer's Farm!
Dairy goats
, Alpine and Saanen, provide the fresh milk used in our homemade bath and body products!
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