The fainting goat is one of the few goat breeds indigenous to the United States.http://ohioline.osu.edu/as-fact/0014.html The fainting goat has a genetic condition called myotonia in which the cells of the muscles experience prolonged contraction and the legs of the goats stiffen, causing them to fall over when startled. http://www.faintinggoat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2 There are varying degrees of the condition, caused by a variety of recessive genes, with some goats falling completely over with all four legs stiff, and others only getting a little stiffening of the limbs. The condition only lasts 10-15 seconds; the goat then gets back up and continues on its way, with a little lingering stiffness that can be seen in the hind legs. http://www.faintinggoat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2 The goats never actually lose consciousness.http://video.kids.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/animals-pets-kids/mammals-kids/goat-fainting-kids.html

Fainting goats may come in all sizes, colors, and patterns. The coats vary from short to long with some individuals producing cashmere during the winter months.http://www.faintinggoat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2 Fainting goats may often be seen with large prominent eyes that are sometimes referred to as bug eyes or pop eyes. The goat is usually a heavily muscled goat with visible signs of increased muscle mass on the hind quarters due to their genetic condition. http://www.faintinggoat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=3 The goats can be used as a meat goat. They are also kept as companion animals, due to their laid back and gentle temperament. http://www.faintinggoat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2

The fainting goat history in the U.S. started in Tennessee in the 1880s with the appearance of an unknown man who may have been from Nova Scotia.http://www.faintinggoat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2 He sold his buck and three does to Dr. H.H. Mayberry who propagated the goats, noting that their fainting tendencies were hereditary. Mayberry therefore called them a breed of their own.http://www.faintinggoat.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2

The fainting goat is listed on the American Livestock Breed Conservancy's Conservation Priority List.http://www.myotonicgoat.com/ The world population of fainting goats is under 10,000.http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/goats/myotonic/index.htm

The fainting goat is easy to raise and does well in conditions that other meat goats do not. They can thrive in the damp, sometimes cold hills of Tennessee.http://www.myotonicgoat.com/ Internal parasites can be a problem for all goats and appropriate worming programs need to be implemented for herd management by the breeder.http://ohioline.osu.edu/as-fact/0014.html