Myotonicinfo

Myotonic Goats, Wooden Leg Goats, Fainting Goats, Tennessee Fainting Goats, Stiff Legged Goats are all
different names for the same breed of goat. Most generally known as the Tennessee Fainting Goat, these
goats are unusual in the fact that they carry a gene called myotonia that affects their fight or flight
response when frightened or startled. What that means is, instead of getting up and running away, they
stiffen and sometimes fall over. This response is not seen when a fainting goat is really scared. They can
run just as fast as the next goat. It happens usually when they are relaxed and/or grazing and all of a
sudden something startles them. Then there's goats falling all over the place. This action does not hurt
them, they do not actually lose conciousness. They are awake and aware the whole time. In fact, I've even
heard of several that were seen laying on their sides grazing while waiting for their muscles to relax again.
It only takes a few seconds.
But just because they 'faint' does not make them Tennessee Fainting Goats. Myotonic goats have distinct
facial features and build. Their eyes appear pop eyed or bug eyed due to the shape of their skull. Ears are
straight out from the head but can be floppy or erect. They are medium sized goats and a full grown buck
can weigh in at 150 lbs. Does are slightly smaller weighing around 80-100 lbs.
It is their gentle nature and quiet playfulness that makes them such popular pets. Few goats have the
character a Myotonic goat does. Even the bucks are generally easy to handle and not agressive, though it is
not recommended that a buck be kept as a pet. Due to the myotonia gene these goats are not able to jump
like other goats can so fencing to keep them home is fairly easy. Myotonic goats blend into another herd of
goats easily and with little trouble as they are sociable and not confrontational.

Myotonic goats come in a wide range of colours and sizes. some have brown/amber eyes, some have blue
eyes and some have what we call marbled eyes which are a mixture of blue and brown. There are even a
rare few who have ICE BLUE eyes. This eye colour is very unusual and very striking.

Myotonic goats, it is believed, originated in Canada.

Sometime during the 1880's a transient farm worker named John Tinsley showed up in Marshall County,
Tennessee. He brought with him a sacred cow, and four goats that stiffened and sometimes fell over if
startled. No one knows where he came from. He had an undetermined accent and wore a cap similar to
either a fez or beret. It was thought by his dress that he came from Nova Scotia. He worked in Marshall
County for a year, then sold his goats to Dr. Mayberry. Tinsley suddenly left one day after selling the goats
and was never heard from again. The heavily muscled goats were later classified as a meat breed and highly
prized for their meat. From these four goats, the breed began and it is the history of the breed that is
known today.

Early articles about goats with myotonia are few. The first description of the breed was made in an article
in 1904 by George R. White and Joseph Plaskett. They kept a pair which were acquired from a farm in Maury
County, Tennessee. This pair was kept under observation for roughly six months at the Nashville Veterinary
Hospital. At that time they estimated no more than 100 of these goats existed and were thought to be a new
breed. Excellent descriptions of goats displaying myotonia were given. They were able to observe a kid,
which was born while the goats were under their care, have an episode of rigidity within a few hours after
birth.

A brief note was published in 1908 by H. Dexler, who became interested in the article by White and Plaskett.
After correspondence with some owners of myotonic goats he stated that a farmer had imported a myotonic
goat from Canada. This led him to believe that the goats were not entirely a local animal. Nothing more
ever became of this brief note.

Because these goats were first "found" and recognized in Tennessee, it is believed that is where they
originated and thus named then the "Tennessee Goat". There is so much that is not known about these
goats and there is much suspicion as to where they really came from. I greatly suspect that these goats did
originate in Canada.

Myotonic goats are a multi-purpose breed bred for milk, meat, pets and fiber. They are very intelligent,
calm and generally happy goats and make wonderful pets. But acquiring a Myotonic goat just to scare it to
watch it fall over is mean and should NEVER be done!

Myotonic goats have a life span similar to other breeds of goats and with proper care it will range from
12-15 years but are slow to mature and slow growing. Most are not fully mature until they are five years
old.

Myotonic goats are extremely rare and on the ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST. There are very few reputable
breeders of registered Myotonic goats in Canada. Our Myotonic goats are registered with the Myotonic
Goat Registry and The Myotonic Herd Book. We register all new kids with the MGR and the MHB.