McDaniel Myotonic Munchkins Fainting Goats

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween everyone, stay safe and have fun!

08/20/2024

Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PhD
- The Truth About Fainting Goats

The first thing to know is that Fainting goats don’t actually faint, but have a muscular condition called myotonia congenita. So, the episodes leading to the common name don’t occur in the brain at all, but are limited to the muscles.

The condition prevents the muscle cells from relaxing quickly after contraction, and this leads to the situation where the limbs stiffen, and if the goat is off balance, it can fall over. The stiff episodes are over in a few seconds.

This trait gives these goats a host of common names, including fainting goats, stiff leg goats, nervous goats, or wooden leg goats. The important detail is that they never lose consciousness during these episodes.

We know from related conditions in people, dogs, and other animals that the condition itself is painless. In goats, it actually has some advantages. These goats were long valued in their original Tennessee homeland because they are easy to fence in. They cannot climb or jump, which makes them much easier to manage and contain than other goats.

In addition they are quiet, good mothers, resist parasites well, and have heavier muscling than goats without myotonia. All of these attributes combine to make them a good choice as a meat-producing goat, a role for the breed that has been increasing recently. They are also popular as pet goats due to their quiet attitudes.

This breed of goats, in common with many local breeds, became quite rare in the late 20th century. Numbers plummeted to the point that the Livestock Conservancy listed them as threatened. Populations have now increased so that they are much more secure, and listed as recovering. As far as anyone knows, they are uniquely American, so guarding their status here is essential to their survival globally.

08/19/2024

We are now taking reservations for the 2025 kidding season. Looking for fainting goat kids? Message me and get on our call back list! LaPine Oregon.

08/04/2024

Breakfast time! Silly goats, can’t you wait till I put it in your hay rack😂

08/04/2024

Breeding has started here, kids will be going to the McMinnville show next year!

07/31/2024

Catnip is just tooo cute!🥰

07/27/2024

Just some “in the ring” pictures of Blackjack and Butterscotch.

07/21/2024

Last day of the McMinnville Oregon show. Blackjack got a 2nd and Butterscotch got a 3rd in their class. Heading home!

07/21/2024

Second day of showing in McMinnville Oregon. Blackjack got two 4th and Butterscotch got one 4th. It was a yellow ribbon day!

07/21/2024

Showing goats in McMinnville Oregon, Day 1. Blackjack and Butterscotch both got 3rd in their class.

06/17/2024

Thank you Jessica for purchasing Lylee and her kids. Have a wonderful time with them😉

This trio is on reserve and going to their new home in June….mama will be happy to be with her twins for sure!

05/28/2024

Just got done with our annual summer haircuts! Everyone looks great!

05/27/2024

Catnip waiting for her treats!🥰

05/20/2024

My boy Kimba, love this little guy!

05/19/2024

This trio is on reserve and going to their new home in June….mama will be happy to be with her twins for sure!

05/17/2024

Beautiful day here in LaPine, kids are out playing and having fun!

05/10/2024

Love this

You've seen them. And you've heard them. But there's something you may not know. One particular breed of goat faints when it's scared. Do you think they'd ma...

04/29/2024

Our little boy Kimba!! Love his colors, yep he’s a keeper 🥰 he is going to be a stud muffin 🤣