These are one of the few goats that are indigenous to the U.S. There are two strains of this animal. Most of those found in Tennessee and the eastern U.S. are smaller. Most Texas herds tend to be somewhat larger, probably due to selective breeding for the meat market. They also have a market as pets because they are quite unique. Myotonic means when they are frightened or excited they "lock up" and often fall over (faint) and lie very stiff for a few seconds, hence the name "Fainting" Goat (they do not actually faint). 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. This stiffening is like doing isometric exercises and so these goats have about 40% more meat than a comparably sized goat.No one really knows their origin. There are two popular theories, and then there is mine.
One theory traces the origin back to the 1880's in Marshall County, Tennessee. A man by the name of John Tinsley came to town with four goats, a billy and three nannies, and a "sacred" cow which he had brought from Nova Scotia. . He stayed long enough to marry a local woman, and to help a local farmer with the harvest. He sold his goats to a man by the name of R. Goode and then departed the community. He took the "sacred" cow with him, but alas for the poor wife, left her behind. It is believed that all the Fainting goats in the U.S. can trace their origins back to these four.
The other theory is that there was a spontaneous mutation in the herd which resulted in the recessive gene.
It is my theory that, like myself, someone liked the fact that these goats do no climb, so they selectively bred for this recessive genetic trait from goats with the Myotonic propensity, thus creating the fainting breed.
These goats were used primarily for meat, although they were also used to protect sheep. With a Fainting goat in the herd if coyotes or dogs threatened the sheep, the sheep could run away while the Fainting goat fell over, providing the predator with an easy meal while the sheep escaped. Fainting goats were close to extinction by the 1980's, but have now been bred back to where they are no longer an "endangered species" and have been placed on the "rare" list, with an estimated world population of under 10,000.
Fainters also are very good milk goats. The milk to has an excellent flavor and they produce around a quart at each milking. Some folks also enjoy making soap from their milk.
A Fainting goat averages between 17-25 inches in height, and weighs between 50 and 165 pounds. They are NOT miniature goats. They can be horned, disbudded (dehorned), or polled (naturally hornless). Their coats can be long or short, but never curly like Angoras. They come in a variety of colors including black, tan, red, brown, gray and white. Some people prefer them in black and white only, others breed for as much color as possible.
Fainting goats have bulging eyes which are very unusual and which distinguish them from other breeds. They also have very long ears that stand out to the side of their head. They are a very calm animal and make excellent pets and unlike other breeds, fainters will not climb to high places (mine won't stand on a square bale). They are a herding animal, and should therefore be kept with at least two or three of their own kind.
Females are polyestrous, which means they come into heat year round. They come into heat every 3 weeks (17-23 days) and can remain in heat anywhere from 1-3 days. Gestation period is 145-151 days, twins are the norm, but sometimes have triplets. They are easy kidders and have good milk production (kids are seldom weaned earlier than 3 months). Many breeders have noted the breed has the capability to produce two kids a year. They are good mothers so in most cases a bonding pen is not needed. Since they do not climb they are easier to keep than other goats.