In
the early 1800's a strangely dressed migrant farmer named Tinsley
appeared in Marshall County Tennessee with four goats and a sacred cow.
Folklore states after a failed relationship, Tinsley packed up and left
town taking only his sacred cow. The goats were sold to Dr. H.H.
Mayberry who recognized their unique traits and began breeding them.
This
unique genetic trait is called Myotonia which causes the goat to
stiffen up and fall over if startled or surprised. It does not hurt the
goat and the effect only lasts for 10-15 seconds and goes away.
Folklore
also states due to this unique genetic trait the goats were used as
sacrificial lambs alongside other livestock so they would fall pray to
predators and not the more valuable livestock.
This
led to the near extinction of myotonic goats. In 1988 they were
declared endangered and put on the American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy's Watch List.
The
Myotonic goat has since become popular as a pet due to their easy
keeping and fun loving personality, not to mention their ability to
"faint."
Myotonic
goats are known as Fainting, Nervous, Stiff Leg, Wooden Leg, and
Tennessee Scare Goats. We refer to them as Myotonics or Fainters.