When people are choosing goats, why does the Tennessee Fainting Goat appeal to some people?
Unfortunately, it’s the novelty of these goats that appeal to most people who want them. They think it’s funny to show their friends that their goat will “faint” if it’s startled. The “fainting” actually isn’t fainting at all. It’s a genetic defect called Myotonia Congenita. The goat is completely conscious the whole time, but the condition causes them to stiffen into a full body cramp and be unable to move when they are frightened or startled. Fainting goat owners will tell you that it doesn’t hurt the goat, but people who are afflicted with this condition will tell you that it is a very painful and troublesome medical problem. I’ve seen these goats in action and I can tell you that they are most definitely upset when they are trying to run from something and can’t.
