Fainting Goats
Welcome to Faint-Hearted Ranch Myotonic Goats
Our herd
has tested negative for CAE, CL and Johnes.
We tested the entire herd in 2010, 2011 and 2012! Since then, we test intermittently and all results have been negative. We believe
a healthy herd is the basis for a quality
herd.
We truly
love our Myotonics! They are easy keepers and very hardy. They make great pets,
excellent lawnmowers/ weedeaters and are
always there to give us a good laugh! We
are members of the MGR and also participate in the FGG functions. Myotonic Goats are a wonderful
breed that we believe needs to be
preserved. We hope you enjoy our site and
we look forward to hearing from you.
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Myotonic
goats as a breed are said to have originated
in Tennessee. We now have Tennessee
strains,
Texas strains and minis. Although
ALL are the same breed and still come from
the same
initial stock. Myotonics range in
size from 17-30+ in. at the withers. Some
are even larger although we prefer ours to
be under 30 in. As the goats grow beyond
29-30+ inches at the withers you really lose
the easy gain on browse trait that is sought
after in this breed. They come in all colors
and hair lengths and can be horned, polled
or disbudded.
Some breed characteristics that apply or
should apply to all Myotonic goats are their
somewhat bug eyed appearance, they also have
a prominent stop below their eyes. They
should have a somewhat stocky appearance,
although too wide is considered a fault
since it can impede their adaptability to
all terrain.
The
Tennessee Fainting Goat is in the meat goat
category. Known for high meat to bone
ratio,as their myotonia tends to increase
muscle tone. This medium sized goat is easy
to raise, exhibits qualities such as
excellent mothering skills, easy gain on
browse (no concentrates) and high parasite
resistance. We breed specifically for
strong legs, hooves and high parasite
resistance. Some of our stock are over
10
years old and have rarely needed their
hooves to be trimmed and have never
needed to be wormed.
Fainting goats are listed in the
American Livestock Breed Conservancy's
Conservation Priority List. It is important
to preserve this rare breed, and easy to do
so, given the fainting goat's fit to most of
America's climate. They definitely thrive
where other meat goats fail to deal with the
damp, sometimes cold hills of Tennessee and
similar temperate areas.
Though myotonic behavior is seen as a
novelty, the breed is so much more than a
comedy act. The Myotonic goats are calm,
easily trained and make wonderful pets. On
our ranch they seem to think they are dogs
instead of goats. We always have a goat
following us around the property trying to
"help" with farm chores.
Our goats
are MGR registered. Most of
our fainters have bright blue eyes and are
polled. (born without horns)
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