They have a genetic condition called myotonia, in which the muscles contract but do not relax immediately. In humans it is considered a disease. Some have encouraged the perpetration of the condition by terming it a "breed trait". It serves absolutely no purpose other than entertainment for those who find it amusing when an affected animal falls over with an attack after a sudden scare, and cannot right itself.

I am far from overly emotional when it comes to livestock. I like the rare and unusual, in coloration, type or other characteristics that are strictly ornamental and often serve no useful purpose other than esthetics. These traits however do not pose any harm to the animal. The supporters of these "wooden leg" goats are quick to note that the act of falling does not usually hurt the animal. They conveniently don't mention that the condition is a death sentence for any animal which has it who comes in contact with a predator. They also are highly suseptible to bullying and injury from normal healthy animals because they cannot always run from superior members of the pecking order.

IMO, it is a shame that the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, which claims to encourage a higher degree of stewardship, among other things, has decided to encourage the continuation of a disease condition in a breed of livestock.

Also IMO, children who need a breed of goat which "faints" in order to successfully interact with them, should either be taught proper livestock care or else stay inside with their nintendo. There are of course smaller breeds such pigmies or Nigerian Dwarves which are easier for responsible children to handle.

That is really sad Patrick..
I will let my children read your reply when they get home from school today.

I almost thought that they were pulling my leg about the reality of fainting goats.
Now I wish they were a myth... poor lil critters!

I think we will stick with the original plan... chickens, guineas and rabbits.

It really is. Let me repeat that I'm far from a bleeding heart when it come to my animals, but I'll never understand how seeing a goat fall over and lie there quivering until it's muscles loosen up is entertainment, except for the feeble minded. The other thing is that, in order to see the "fainting" in action, it requires a quick muscle contraction, as in immediate flight from some danger. So what happens is that the owners and those who want to see the spectacle, have to sneak up and frighten them with a quick menacing action or loud noise. Some owners have complained that it has been done so many times to their animals, that they have become so accustomed to being scared, and it's difficult to see them perform any longer because nothing sends them running.

It's been some time since I've seen it, but there is a video clip out there somewhere of one in action. Maybe a web search would turn it up.

You might want to consider sheep for your kids too. They're much less intelligent than goats, and so less interactive, obnoxious and, IMO, less interesting, but if you don't keep a ram you shouldn't have any of the issues that you're concerned with.

Not everbody raises them for entertainment.matter of the fact i dont know of nobody around me that does.we show them and sell them 'and showing them is just that [not making them spooked and fall over].it's not as bad as SOME people make it out to be.my definition of feeble minded would be somebody useing a goat of any kind for sacrifices.

Then please help me to understand what is the attraction? Why would you want to reproduce and exhibit an animal that carries this trait, especially if you do not take advantage of it? Is it that they sell well due to a high demand? You can exhibit dairy, angora, pigmy and (I think) Boer goats, none of which has a registry which encourages that any detrimental traits be selected for in breeding of the animals which they oversee.

patrick'
we have raised several different breeds through the years and heard about the myatonic breed and researched theme and started a herd 'not because they faint or fall over 'but because they are for us easier to maintain and keep healthy.yes there's a high demand for them' we get 175.00 for them with no questions asked at 3 months old'so i guess you could say it's about money also'but we make our living farming and raiseing calves and goats.

Tennesee Fainting, Pegleg or Myotonic goats (different names, same goat) are one of the breeds used as a meat type goat. The rear legs of the animals are the part that lock up. Yes, they do fall over but don't spasm or freak out. The muscles contract the same way the hair on the back of your neck may stand up or you may shudder/startle when someone jumps out from hiding and yells "BOO!" Same reflex and they recover almost as quickly.

The reason they are in demand: they are a more docile breed and the well muscled rear legs along with the loin is the most desirable meat cut for goat. As for predators, the same could be said of disbudding or dehorning. Sometimes such immobility is like "playing possum" - if it doesn't act like prey (running and screaming/squealing), maybe it isn't prey, except if the predator is really hungry and not just chasing/mauling for "kicks" like the neigborhood pet dogs.

If you don't like goats, don't get them, particularly for children. You know who will end up taking care of them! If the children really want to interact with goats, see if there is a 4H group they can get involved with and if there is a member breeder who wouldn't mind allowing your children to show their wethers (neutered males) for them. Boer and Angora goats are pretty docile breeds for exihibiting.

I don't believe you can do any harm by owning or
perpetrating an existing breed of livestock.
There are many ways to abuse an animal that are
far worse than an occasional scare.

I believe these goats were originally bred to protect
flocks of sheep from predators by "becoming the bait".

We raise Toggenburgs for milk and enjoy and respect
the animals for what they are, and how they fit our
farm. You should do the same, if so inclined.

Sacrificial goats? That's the first time that I've heard that use suggested for them. I'll bet that ALBC would take that idea and run with it as a great propaganda tool in it's "the sky is falling" approach to livestock conservation.

It's an interesting idea, but I wonder exactly how it was used in practice. Was a farmer to keep just one or two to draw the predators' attention from the sheep, or did they need to keep an entire goat herd just to keep the sheep safe? I guess that if that were the case, I can't understand why one would not have just kept a larger flock of sheep and took his chances with the predators by keeping animals that could all at least try to out run them.

there's not no IDEA about it'that's been going on for year's 'I was just reading the other day about in some states these cult's go to sale barn's and buy them for that purpose only.I don't care for that freaky kind of stuff' but then again it take's all kind's.