The fainting goat is originally from Nova Scotia. For the first time in history, they were able to register, from Marshall County, TN, back in the 1880s. A man named, Tinsley moved to the northern part of Marshall County, Texas, and brought with him four goats and a cow. These goats showed nervous, strange tendencies. When these goats started, their leg muscles would temporarily become rigid causing them to lose their balance and fall off.
Fainting goats were almost extinct by the 1980s, but now they are thriving all over the world. Marshall County, Tennessee is called the “cradle” of the myotonic goat. These goats have lived here for decades. Keep in mind that just because a goat suffers from fainting, does not mean it is a Fainting goat in Tennessee. You should understand other characteristics of Tennessee fainting goats to help you distinguish between breeds.
Causes of Fainting goat
It is not really that they faint, but because of a congenital disease. This disease has the name of myotonic dystrophy. The disease causes the muscles of its legs to contract, lose stability, and the animal lies motionless through consciousness for a few seconds. Although it may seem a priori that a herdsman would not want such a goat in his head.
This breed is quite useful because in a situation of stress, usually a predator attacking, this goat is stretched “offering” so that the other animals can escape, thus avoiding greater losses. Today they are raised because they are a smaller breed and easier to care for and maintain than other larger breeds.
And also for sale as a pet, since it is a very friendly animal, intelligent and of course funny. Farm owners were often asked, “Are you joking?” “Do not goats faint really exist?” No kidding, the Fainting goat are real. These goats are called by a variety of names: with stiff legs goats, scare goats, nervous goats, and myotonic goats. To understand your name, you must know its characteristics and background.
What is Myotonia?
Myotonia can be defined as stiff muscles, some goats can not totally lose balance and fall, but their buckles knees can. When these goats are in situations of high stress or fear, adrenaline, and cortisol (fight or flight hormones) increasing muscle tension throughout the body.
Myotonia, the stiffness of muscles, actually helps build more muscle in these goats. The goats do not lose consciousness, they are not having an attack, and their central nervous system is fine. You May Also Like To Read Boer Goat.
Your muscles just tighten and relax. This condition that the goats get to scare only lasts about ten to fifteen seconds, and then later, these goats will march again.
What other features have the Tennessee Fainting Goat?
Many of these goats have bulging eyes with wide eyes. His eyes change color, several shades of brown with rare tones of blue. Its eye placement gives the head a straight type in front of a profile. The nose is wider and rounder than in other breeds, not sharp or on point.
Their ears the average length can be straight, with curves down in the middle or double down and forward protecting the eyes. They come in different colors, black and white or a variety of colors with different brands and combinations of patterns.
These goats have bodies with greater muscle mass due to the myotonic gene! They have a solid structure with bold expressions. They are, in general, strong, disease-resistant and good mothers. Most of them wean their children on their own. That milk, generously, for about four months.
These goats are slow to mature, for extra care must be in the breeding of these animals. They have not fully matured until four years old. Fainting Tennessee goat can live twelve to fifteen years or more with proper goat care. Here’s a fun fact from these goats. Have you ever heard the expression “scapegoat”?
According to some scholars, shepherds keep the fainting goat with their flocks of sheep as insurance against predators. When the wolves and other predatory animals attack a flock of sheep, the Fainting goat comes to scare and fall, so they are easy prey.
Wolves and other predators focus so much on the fainting goat, which allows other sheep to escape and escape. Therefore, the term “scapegoat” refers to the sheep that escaped with the help of the fainting goat. You May Also Like To Read Angora Goat.
Temperament
Fainting goats are wonderful farm animals. These farm animals are fun, especially, very quiet, proud and easy to teach. The sweet personality of this species will win hearts.
Conclusion
If you are interested in learning more about the myotonic goat, make sure to read our article on “The Myotonic Goat”. We also have a guide for Tennessee fainting goats that should be helpful! Whether you want to learn everything there is about this breed of meat goat or if you just need some simple tips for raising them, we can help. Good luck with your new farm animal!
As A References: Wikipedia
