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in some areas are valued for their
meat.They are also easier to tend as
they are not capable of climbing or
jumping like other goats. Even after
a spasm has passed, their rear legs are
stiff causing them to run awkwardly.
So, they are easy to catch.
They are smaller than goats raised
for their milk, being 17 to 25 inches
tall and can weigh anywhere from
60 to 170 pounds. They
have large, prominent
eyes in high sockets.
They come in a variety of
colors andmay have long
or short hair. Certain
ones produce cashmere
but it is believed there
is no angora strain in
this North American
breed. They also have a
personality favorable to
being kept as pets.
Fainting goats date
back to the 1880s
when an itinerant farm
laborer by the name of
John Tinsley is said to
have come to central
Tennessee from Nova
Socia, bringing with him
four of these unusual
creatures.When Tinsley
left, his employer, Dr
Mayberry, bought the
goats and their kids.The
origin of those original
goats is unknown and will likely
remain a mystery.
However, the “fainting” breed
was preserved and expanded and
soon the sheep farmers in Tennessee
had the bright idea of using the
goats to protect their sheep from
predatory animals. They would put
two or three of the fainting goats in
with their flock so when they were
surprised by a predator, the goats
would fall down and become easy
prey while the sheep got away. Talk
about a scapegoat!
During the 1950s, some
Tennessee Fainting goats were
taken to Texas. They were favored
there for their meat quality, which
is described as “tender and tasty”.
In Texas they became known as
“Wooden Leg” goats.
Fainting goats are easily bred and
the females (called does) frequently
give birth to twins. They usually
have enough milk for even triplets,
which they occasionally produce.
Their kids are vigorous and up in
feeding within minutes after being
born. An adult doe may have kids
as regularly as every six months.
Prices for pairs considered purebred
and suitable for breeding, start at
around $200 per goat and go higher
for older goats, according to some
information found on the Internet.
It is interesting to note that
many of the older fainting goats
learn to lean against an object or
spread their legs so they don’t lose
their balance when they are startled.
This at least makes it appear they
can run, though, even under the
best of conditions they
aren’t fast. Their legs are
shorter and stiffer than
standard goats. Their
back legs especially
seemed not to bend at
all.Besides being labeled
Fainting goats, they are
also call Tennessee Stiff
Legs, Nervous goats,
Texas Wooden Legs (as
mentioned earlier) and
Myotonic goats. It is
believed there are about
20,000 of them in the
world today.
Melanie wants to
add a couple of other
things to her farm. A
tractor is at the top of
her wish list. And next
are ducks. Of course,
she doesn’t want the
typical, white, barnyard
variety, she likes “Indian
Runner Ducks”. They
don’t fly, they lay more
eggs than chickens and they’re good
for the garden, Melanie says.
Runner ducks have been bred to
be slender and tall (penguin like)
and they don’t waddle, like a typical
duck, they run. They run quite fast
as a matter of fact. Hopefully they
won’t scare the goats.
Goats Continued...
Discover Smith Mountain Lake
Winter 2014
15
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