I first saw a YouTube video of Tennessee Fainting Goats some time ago, but when I received another "Fainting Goats" email leading to a YouTube video, I wondered more about it. After watching several videos, two things become clear. These have got to be the cutest goats around, and the favored rural pasttime of cow tipping has some serious competition.

Fainting Goats are known by several names, including Myotonic Goats, Stiff Leg Goats, Nervous Goats, and Tennessee Meat Goats, among others. These goats are not dairy goats, but are excellent meat goats due to their dense musculature. That said, they have been listed as a threatened breed by the American Livestock Breed Conservatory, so their use at dinner time is limited.

Also known as Tinsley Goats, the first known fainting goats in America dates from around 1880, in Tennessee, when a migrant farm worker named Jon Tinsley sold three does and a buck to a Dr. H. H. Mayberry. Dr. Mayberry bred the fainting goats, and they became popular in the region.

Though they are believed to be indigenous to North America, some people think these goats originally came from Switzerland, where they were used as decoy animals, mixed in with flocks of sheep. Predators coming upon the flock would startle these fainting goats, which would freeze up and fall to the ground. Wolves or other predators would then feast off of the naturally handicapped goats while the rest of the flock made its escape.

Though commonly called fainting goats, they do not actually faint. The condition is known as myotonic congenita. Noone is entirely certain why they freeze up as they do, but it is believed to have something to do with their thick musculature.

What actually happens when the rigor mortis appears to be setting in is simply that like many creatures, including us humans, when startled their muscles tense up or contract. The fainting goats experience this rather extremely, causing them to become quite stiff legged and often to actually fall over. It can take up to ten seconds for their muscles to relax again.

They are fully conscious throughout, and unless they fall down on a sharp rock or such it is usually a painless experience. The prolonged muscle contraction can also occur anytime the animal is excited, or simply by losing its balance while maneuvering over a low object or barrier.

As the fainting goats grow older, they usually learn to overcome the handicap. Though they still become stiff legged, they adapt a wider stance so that when startled into a muscle freeze they don't lose their balance. In fact, they can often continue to run, in a stiff legged way, as you can see in the second video here.

Not all myotonic goats experience the fainting trait; they are officially registered in three categories. The best of the breed are known as Premium, those fainting goats that do experience the "fainting" condition and whose lineage can be traced to registered parents.

Fainting goats falling into the second category are known as Regular. These goats, though they may be directly descended from goats in the Premium category, do not "faint". They do however, still have the stiff legged condition in their back legs when startled, and may be known as Wooden Leg Goats. The third category of fainting goats is the Heritage category, which consists of fainting goats which do actually faint, but whose parents are not registered.

There is another category of fainting goats for those known as Mini Myotonic Goats. While even the full sized of the breed are smaller than most other goat breeds, these mini fainting goats are no taller than 23" at the withers.

The smaller size of all fainting goats makes them ideal meat goats for a small farmer. They are easier to maintain and care for, and unlike other goats not so great at climbing over fences and other barriers.

Myotonic goats also make excellent pets. While their smaller size contributes to this, they are also very friendly, intelligent, and great with children. Twelve to fifteen years is the normal life span for a healthy myotonic goat.

The fainting goats are predominantly colored in black and white, but other goat color combinations also exist, and their coats also very in length, with some short haired and others producing plenty of cashmere in the winter.

Like other goat breeds, fainting goats like to eat alot of grass or grains, and will pretty much try to eat anything else they can ahold of as well. Unlike other goat breeds, fainting goats have a predominantly set eyes, a stockier build, and tend to reproduce at a higher rate.

If you're interested in learning more about Fainting or Myotonic Goats, you can check out the website for the American Livestock Breeds Conservatory, or visit the International Fainting Goat Association, where these goats are registered. The second site also features a Buyer's Guide in case you're interested in obtaining some of these entertaining animals. Prices range from $300, to $600 for a good fainter.