Fainting Goats

Written by Jason Bellows on 30 September 2005

Most of the internet savvy, it seems, are somewhat lacking in knowledge relating to the interesting topic of “bizarre domesticated animals that people breed for fun.” To help reduce this unfortunate trend, I introduce the fainting goat.

The small, domesticated goat carries the hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita which causes the legs of this little critter to, when startled or excited, go rigidly stiff for about ten seconds.

As far as I can tell, most people breed these varmints mostly to snap open umbrellas at them, and watch as they scatter like bowling pins. In the past however, fainting goats were bred for circuses and menageries as food; the fainting goat would be placed in an enclosed location with an animal that needed to hunt, such as a lion. The chase didn’t last long once the goat was startled by the giant cat bearing down on it. The lion got to hunt, the animal’s keepers didn’t have to let it out of its cage–everybody wins. Except the goat.

The best part: The Video


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#1 CauselessEffect 18 June 2006 at 09:45 pm

Hilarious! I saw some video footage of this on Animal Planet once! I really wonder what the purpose of this defense mechanism is and why the gene’s carriers have not been wiped out? Apparently God must have a sense of humor.

#2 tazman 26 June 2006 at 06:39 pm

Hahahaha

I love the video :)

#3 ChickenHead 13 October 2006 at 08:26 am

CauselessEffect said: “Hilarious! I saw some video footage of this on Animal Planet once! I really wonder what the purpose of this defense mechanism is and why the gene’s carriers have not been wiped out? Apparently God must have a sense of humor.”

When a bunch of breeders find the trait useful (or down right funny), then they’ll selectively breed to keep it in the species.

You don’t have to look any farther than domesticated canines to see such a thing in action. Serious, a chihuahua? What possible advantage (of any kind) do they have? Yet they survive in great masses. :)

#4 Zamemee 20 October 2006 at 05:58 pm

I have never heard of them being breed for food for circus animals, but I have heard that they were originally breed so that they could be put in with a flock of sheep to act as easy prey should a predator attack the flock.

#5 Merciless 04 June 2007 at 12:19 pm

That video is to funny. My family and I have goats of different breeds but have never heard, let alone seen this one. Can’t wait to show them. Another funny looking goat is the “LaMancha,” known for being bread earless. Pretty funny looking at first, but not nearly like these fainting goats. Damn Hilarious!

#6 kiwi532 09 June 2008 at 08:56 pm

They are just goats with narcolepsy.

#7 DanThinksDances&femaleGspot 28 July 2008 at 10:33 pm

Enter your reply text here. OK

///////////////////////////////////As far as I can tell, most people breed these varmints mostly to snap open umbrellas at them, and watch as they scatter like bowling pins./////////////////////////

Stupid inept internet. VIDEO is gone. (personal view of internet / waiting for the second generation of internet to come along, being developed by professors & private industry)

Is the above mentioning the teasing and laughing at animals? ahh…. no good.

Good read.

#8 halifornia 13 December 2009 at 08:31 pm

As ChickenHead stated, at some point a breeder identified the trait, and bred for it. Once it bred true these goats became conversation pieces for the rich and idle. Whether or not they were also used as “easy prey” when flocks were attacked by predators, I cannot verify.

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Fainting Goats