Some Small U.S. Farms Are Raising Fainting Goats or Myotonic Goats
Posted on March 20, 2014
The Goat Flower Farm in Lancaster County, PA is one several farms raising "fainting goats" or myotonic goats. When these goats are startled they can freeze up and fall over. The goats recover after about ten seconds.
The goats have an inherited disorder called myotonia congenita, which can cause their muscles to lock up. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy says the degree of muscle stiffness varies from goat to goat. The R Fainting Farm says the goats have greater muscle mass thanks to the myotonia gene. The Myotonic Goat Registry has a detailed description about Myotonic goats here.
The goats have several other nicknames, including Wooden Leg goat and Scare goats. Take a look:
Biologist Carin Bondar tells The Science Channel that some farmers years ago used to keep a few myotonic goats in the herd. If a wolf or another predator attacked the herd the unfortunate myotonic goats would be the first to die, but the rest of the herd could escape.