Nature sometimes surprises people much more than fictitious events or fantastic assumptions. She is capable of creating bizarre living creatures, original unique colors, or methods of protection from danger that are particularly extravagant. An example of such natural ingenuity is the unusual properties of fainting goats, a special breed bred in the USA.
History of the goat and interaction with humans
This breed is called the Myotonic or Tennessee goat and also goes by several other names, including fainting goats.This is due to the fact that from the outside it often seems that the goat suddenly fainted at the slightest threat or fear.
The first documentary evidence of the existence of the breed appeared in 1880. Tinsley, a farmer from Tennessee, sold the first known representatives of this variety to a buyer. The significant period of existence of fainting goats did not affect their numbers. The tendency to strange behavior did not contribute to their popularity and active breeding.
Although fainting animals can be difficult to manage because they constantly collapse into stupor, often at the most inopportune times, they have been bred and kept, especially on small farms. In fact, goats were sacrificed. They were included in the herd, for example, of the same valuable breeds, sheep or other farm animals. If the flock was attacked by a predator, the fainting goat would become numb and go to the wolf or coyote as prey, while the rest of the herd remained unharmed.
Later they began to be used for entertainment. Their sudden muscle spasms and falls amused children and adults who came to popular country fairs in America.
Causes of the phenomenon
Fainting is caused by a rare genetic disorder called myotonia congenital. It manifests itself as tonic muscle spasms, that is, what outwardly looks like a loss of consciousness, but in fact it is just temporary paralysis, literally knocking you off your feet. It lasts no more than 10-15 seconds, while the animal remains conscious.
The cause of a sudden fall can be not only fear, but also any strong emotion. This could be the receipt of food or a desired delicacy, the approach of an individual of the opposite sex, or simply the joyful excitement of a game or a sunny day.
An animal falling may look comical, but it is quite capable of being injured or killed if it suddenly falls in the wrong place. However, many generations have developed a kind of immunity against injury, so in most cases their fainting ends without noticeable consequences.
Description and characteristics of the breed
Fainting goats are smaller than other breeds, but much wider, as they are able to gain more body weight due to reduced mobility and activity. Their parameters:
- Height at withers: 43-64 centimeters.
- Weight: 27-79 kilograms. Adult fainting bucks can gain up to 100 kilograms. The average body weight of myotonic goats is 35-40% greater than that of their relatives.
- Protruding large eyes.
- Wool can be of different lengths. There are “wood goats” with short or long hair, as well as those that can be classified as cashmere or angora breeds. It all depends on what species the ancestors of the “nervous” creatures were crossed with.
- Black and white coloring is common, but it is not a fundamental characteristic of the breed because “stiff-legged goats” are found in all color variations.
Apart from a genetic anomaly and some minor appearance features, this breed is no different from its relatives.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of fainting goats are that they can be used as a source of dietary meat and also supply good quality wool. Sometimes it approaches the level of cashmere fiber, and some animals can produce soft and airy down, like Angora goats.
Also, these funny creatures can be used as a live attraction, that is, they serve as decorative representatives in zoos or circuses.
Farmers following ancient traditions continue to keep and breed this breed as a kind of protection. In a herd, such a goat can serve as an indicator of approaching danger.
Keeping fainting goats
An ordinary goat is a nimble and energetic animal. As soon as supervision is relaxed, she is already chewing flowers in the front garden or climbing onto the roof of a barn or even a house. But things are different with fainting goats. Because of their illness, they are not so playful, so they do not jump over fences or climb fences. In order to arrange life for a small herd, it is enough to build them a warm barn with safe stalls lined with straw, and also equip a grassy paddock for walking in the fresh air.
Given the characteristics of the breed, foreign objects must be removed while grazing so that the animals cannot hit themselves if they suddenly fall.
What to feed
Like other members of the species, fainting goats are not picky about food. In summer they need a large amount of fresh food, mainly grass, in winter they need hay, preferably from young plants - forest or meadow. The animals are also fed “brooms” - bunches of branches with leaves cut from willow, poplar or birch. If necessary, a fainting goat will eat anything - straw from the bedding, and completely dry branches that are inedible at first glance.
Animals are given succulent food: boiled potatoes, fodder beets, carrots, cabbage, and it is not necessary to give whole, high-quality root vegetables and leafy vegetables. Fainting goats happily eat tops, trimmings and leftover food from the garden, the main thing is to ensure their cleanliness and sufficient quantity.
Animals also need to ensure the supply of minerals.To do this, they are given chalk, neutralizing the acidity of green foods, and are also provided with constant access to lick salt and clean drinking water.
In cold weather, they increase the amount of concentrated feed, remembering that too much of it causes the development of urolithiasis. Fainting goats love grain very much; it is a delicacy for them, but they cannot base their diet on it. Nutrition should be varied and nutritious, balanced, rich in vitamins and minerals.
Breeding rules
The gene that causes myotonia in goats is recessive. This means that when crossing in the first generation, such a trait will not appear, since it will be suppressed by dominant genes. A quarter of the resulting offspring will have a recessive gene in the second generation. In the case of fainting goats, this means that the second generation of offspring risks developing a tendency to myotonia in 25% of the total number of kids born.
Disease Prevention
In order for goats to be healthy, it is necessary to properly maintain and feed them, as well as promptly identify signs of illness, isolate the sick animal and call a veterinarian.
Goats are susceptible to digestive problems associated with eating wet green feed or drinking directly after such food. Therefore, they are driven out to pasture after the dew has disappeared, or the grass has dried out after rain or fog. You can give water an hour after feeding succulent plant food.
Due to improper management, goats may develop skin problems or lesions on their hooves. You can avoid many difficulties with hygiene measures, frequent cleaning of the shed, and the use of bedding.Preventing parasitic and infectious diseases is more difficult, but vaccinations, cleanliness and prompt removal of sick individuals from the herd will help.
Fainting goats have a genetic problem that cannot be cured with medication or other methods. Therefore, when breeding them, it is advisable to select the strongest and healthiest sires. Then the offspring will not be weakened, and the gene that gives the goats originality will be passed on to otherwise healthy offspring.
