What are Myotonic  Goats

The Myotonic goats (aka Nervous Goat, Wooden Leg Goat, Scare Goat, Fainting Goat) carry a unique gene that causes a condition called myotonia congenita. This condition causes the goats muscles to stiffen when they become excited or startled.  Goats exhibit varying degrees of myotonia.  Some goats will fall to the ground with all 4 legs in the air, while others will just stiffen up in their limbs and not fall over.  The stiffness only lasts for seconds before they start moving around again. The goats are fully conscious while in this myotonic state.

There is no way to predict the degree of myotonia from goat to goat.  It can vary from never or rarely stiffening up to always walking stiff and locking up/tipping over every time when startled.  We cannot tell if a goat will be a good fainter or not, or when it will start fainting.  Some goats start fainting when they are a few days old, some may take several months.  As goats get older, they tend to learn to control their “faint” and will just stand still when they get stiff rather than try to run and fall over. 

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I have read that Fainting goats were originally bred to be pastured with sheep.  If a predator started chasing the sheep, the Fainting goats would “faint” and be bait for the predator while the sheep safely got away.  Today, Fainting goats are used for commercial meat production and for pets.

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Fainting goats are very gentle and friendly goats that love attention and treats.  They are good with children and make a great addition to the family.  They also make a great stress reliever.  After a long stressful day, I often sit with the goats and let then snuggle with me.  I call it my “Goat Therapy”. 

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There is one big problem to consider when getting your first goats.  Once you start, you can’t seem to get enough of them and you want more and more.