This behavior is typical of , also known as Tennessee fainting goats or goats with wooden legs.
These animals are characterized by a genetic condition called myotonia. This neuromuscular disorder causes the muscles of a goat that has been startled to temporarily freeze. The underlying process of congenital myotonia has nothing to do with loss of consciousness. In these cases, the goat’s muscles contract and tense up for about 5 to 20 seconds.
When any other goat that does not suffer from myotonia senses a threat, its sends a signal to the muscles, which tense momentarily and then relax, allowing the animal to flee. However, in Tennessee fainting goats, the muscles remain tense for a significantly longer period, causing them to freeze and typically fall over. Instead of the “fight or flight” response, they activate a different one: “fight, flee, or fall.”
When did the world learn about these goats?
This rare breed with myotonic syndrome was first described in the 1880s by a farmer in Tennessee who acquired four goats prone to fainting. The goats were bred, and the breed was established, as reported by IFLScience.
Unlike mountain goats, myotonic goats are known for their poor climbing abilities, making them easier to manage.
Today, there are between 3,000 and 5,000 myotonic goats in the . They are typically raised for meat, but recently, they have increasingly been bred for tourist entertainment. Their unusual behavior has made them a popular attraction. The breeding of this species is monitored and regulated by the International Association and the Myotonic Goat Registry.
Although these goats may look quite alarming when they suddenly fall, fainting does not harm them at all. It passes quickly, and the animals return to normal.
Photo: Openverse