The next publication of myotonic goats did not appear till 1930 when j. Myotonia acts as an isometric exercise for their muscles, such as a professional bodybuilder would have. An itinerant farm laborer named john tinsley came to central tennessee, reputedly from nova scotia. Welcome to shady oaks farm w e are dedicated to saving and preserving the tennessee myotonic fainting goat lineage. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its. It is also known as the myotonic goat, nervous goat or scared goat. Many studies and experiments on myotonia and the hereditary aspects of the gene were done throughout the history of myotonic goats. If they are off balance when their muscles lock up they will tip over, thus the terms of nervous goats, fainters, or stifflegs. Neuromyotonia is a latedelayed complication following rt to the sella turcica or the cavernous sinus region by several years, and is characterized by spontaneous spasms of the eye muscles responsible for episodes of transitory painless diplopia, usually lasting a few seconds. Highlighted events, along with some descriptive writings were documented. The only appropriate response for when someone asks you to do something ridiculously cool. To learn more about this new and elegant breed of long haired goats, please click on the link above to read about the standard and history of the miniature silky fainting goat. This texas flock was brought there to uphold the stories of a texas farmer whos boyhood home was in tennessee. In fact, fainting goats dont actually faint or lose consciousness at all during these episodes.
Please check out our website and feel free to contact us with any questions. While many myotonic goat breeders refer to their animals as fainting goats, myotonic goats dont actually faint. A fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat whose external muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat is startled. We began breeding and raising goats at the ji ranch initially as a way to keep the fence lines and lake banks tidy and to supplement our income after retirement. A distinctly american breed, the myotonic goat was originally discovered in tennessee. Nov 05, 2009 a history of the myotonic breed the unique myotonic breed first enters historical note in the 1880s, when a farm labourer arrived in the middle of tennessee with four of these goats and a zebu cow. Symptoms include gradually worsening muscle loss and weakness. We will register your myotonic goat, according to our registration instructions and qualifications, regardless of whether it has been previously.
The names refer to a breed characteristic known as myotonia congenita, a condition in which the muscle cells experience prolonged contraction when the goat is startled. These goats were once a common sight on the backroads of the south. The defining genetic trait is a neuromuscular condition not a defect which developed naturally that causes them to stiffen. Our farm is located in southern indiana, washington county. Myotonic history in the early 1800s a strangely dressed migrant farmer named tinsley appeared in marshall county tennessee with four goats and a sacred cow. At that time, they were unusual because of the myotonic condition which caused their muscles to stiffen and then relax. History of myotonic goats the myotonic breed appears to be at least 140 years old, probably older. This means that there are a lot more fainting goats in the united states than there used to be just a few years ago. History of myotonic goats myotonic meat goats and great. Fainting goats were first brought to marshall county, tennessee, in the 1880s 396.
Myotonic dystrophy is a longterm genetic disorder that affects muscle function. The history of the fainting goat by debbie cassidy the history of fainting goat breed is at times rather elusive. Breed description first of all, the tennessee fainting goat is a breed of goat, they are not just a goat that displays myotonia. Breed description raising myotonic goats since 2001. Adopt a boer goat x myotonic goat cross from a shelter near boydton,va. The fainting goat is classified as a meat goat versus a dairy goat, however, the breed is considered a threatened species by the livestock conservancy, so it is not used for chevon goat meat as regularly as other breeds of meat goat. The myotonic goat is important in history for researching and clarifying the role of chloride in muscle excitation. We are breeders of mgr registered myotonic goats and. We also have the grand karakachan bulgarian mountain livestock guardian dogs.
About myotonic goats it is said that the first myotonic goats were brought to tennessee by a farm laborer named john tinsley from nova scotia, canada, in the 1800s. Jul 05, 20 past, present, and future of the fainting goat cassidy, debbie on. If you would like to learn more about raising goats and how the goat milk stuff herd is raised, please visit and be sure to check out the raising dairy goats blog. Country journal the nervous or fainting goat a new and peculiar breed. When a bucks instinct to breed is at its strongest, it is call rut. Is a boer goat x myotonic goat cross the right goats for you. They all carry the recessive gene for myotonia congenita. White and joseph plasket, nashville, tennessee pg 1, pg 2, pg 3, pg 4, pg 5. Breed standard american fainting goat organization. Other symptoms may include cataracts, intellectual disability and heart conduction problems.
A wellconditioned healthy buck can breed between 40 50 does in a single breeding season. Woody creek farms myotonic goats from marshall county tennessee. This book is a very, very general book about goats. Myotonia is a inherited neuromuscular condition which causes the goats muscling to stiffen or lockup when they are startled or overly excited. The breeds history can be traced back to the 1880s. This process develops meat through the contraction and relaxation of muscles. Myotonic congenita is the medical term to describe stiffening. Myotonic goats are known by many colorful names such as nervous goats, woodenleg, fainting goats, tennessee myotonic and the tennessee goats.
You see, when this goat is shocked or surprised, its muscles freeze for 10 seconds and it simply tips to one side. Goats of this type gradually became known across the region. Fainting goat or myotonic goats owners manual by lorrick, ludwig isbn. Mar 19, 2007 a fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat whose external muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat is startled. Myotonic dystrophy dm1 is an inherited, chronic, and progressive neuromuscular disorder that may occur rarely at birth congenital form or more commonly manifest during adulthood. The following goats are all considered hippie goats and have a longer hair coat andor skirting.
The mini myotonic cannot be fully registered as such until it is three years of age. He could find no evidence of such a breed anywhere else in the world. Most will agree, however, that it dates back to the early 1880s. He was convinced they were a breed because their unique traits are hereditary. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
History things you must know where to buy making a home for your goats first days at their new home housing daily care seasonal care feeding grooming understanding goat behavior training transport milking breeding health and well being and a lot more. We are breeders of mgr registered myotonic goats and commercial myotonic crosses. Myotonic definition of myotonic by medical dictionary. Males must be less than 23 inches and females less than 22 inches at the withers. Myotonic, tennessee fainting, tennessee meat, texas wooden leg, stiff, nervous, and scare goats. Myotonic goats are known by many names myotonic, tennessee fainting, texas meat, texas wooden leg, etc. As these fainting goat videos show, fainting goats have a muscular condition known as myotonia congenita that causes them to stiffen up and often fall over when theyre scared, or even just really excited. Today, myotonic goats are mostly raised as pets and show animals.
History of the fainting goat this breed of goats has many names. We started as a small family farm located in the southern missouri ozarks. Fainting goat guild fgg goat husbandry reproduction. Original herds ranged from 1725 and weighed between 60175 pounds. The theory went something like this as wolves would come down from the hills to attack a flock of sheep, the goats would become startled and they would faint.
History of the fainting goat american fainting goat. Although our goats are loving pets, this breed is known for its abundance of high quality muscle making them great meat goats. The files listed below open in a new window and are the complete contents of the mgr breeders package, made available individually for the convenience of the membership. Fainting goats, if properly cared for, will live from 10 to 18 years, the same lifespan as most other breeds of goat. Info is not in depth enough to actually learn anything about raising our fainting goats could have just gone on the internet to get the info that was provided. Mayberry propagated them and tried his best to research their history. Heather crowley crazy crowleys corral 20626 state hwy 6 lewistown, mo 63452 phone. Sensitive breed of goats providence county times dec 20, 1929. The myotonic goat registry is here to serve breeders as an open registry for all goats of the traditional myotonic breed found originally in tennessee but now throughout the usa and canada. The sheep would make a clean getaway, as the wolves would focus on the stunned goats rather than follow the fleeing sheep. This breed has several names the most common are myotonic, tennessee fainting, nervous, stifflegged etc. Not very well written, with many spelling errors and grammar errors. For more information on raising fainting goats, i suggest the following books. The first recordation of myotonic goats goes back to the 1870 1880s in rural marshal county, tennessee where an old man named john tinsley showed up accompanied by 4 goats which would seize up and fall over when startled.
Sue johnson, cofounder of the fainting goat guild, and owner of ancient valley ranch mojave, ca, has spent many hours researching the history of the fainting goat. We raise mini myotonic goats and started our breeding program in 2011. This book is perfect for a first time fainting goat owner. Breed a distinctive type of particular species of animal or, sometimes, plant having recognizable inherited characteristics that are the result of a long period of selective mating. About the goats this website is for tracking and purchasing goats from goat milk stuff.
Lush described their history and the behavior of a flock in tx. The fainting was first described in scientific literature in 1904, and described as a congenital myotonia in 1939. The old story tellers believe that a man named john tinsley once traveled from place to place. Yet despite all appearances, these goats also known as myotonic goats, tennessee stifflegs, tennessee woodenlegs, nervous goats and falldown goats arent simply weak of heart or abnormally prone to fright. A fainting goat is a medium sized goat and is one of the most interesting one among various goat breeds. Myotonic goat history a work in progress nervous, stifflegged, or fainting goats by drs. Fainting goats make the newspaper in the early 1900s. It was not that good if you were a goat, but the sheep liked it.