Why are swoon goats so named? About interesting features and history of the breed, the reasons for unusual behavior, characteristics and content of such households, as well as a lot of useful and interesting information - below.
Strange feature of the swooning goat
The fainting goat got its name for a reason. In moments of danger or great excitement, these nervous natures abruptly fall on their side, like corpses, with outstretched legs, and remain motionless for 10 to 60 seconds.
From the outside it may seem ridiculous, and many strive to scare her well, however, the poor animal does not experience any euphoria from sudden paralysis.
Do all goats react the same?
The reaction to a strong shock in animals is individual. Some individuals are ready to faint from any rustle, others from sudden strong fright.
Young animals are most susceptible to seizures; with age, the disease weakens, and can even disappear.
A bit of history
The first mention of this breed was recorded in the 1880s in the US state of Tennessee, when a farmer (presumably from Nova Scotia) with 4 animals appeared in it. The goats quickly adapted to the new conditions and made a splash among ranchers. Since they had good meat characteristics, they did not require high fences due to their disinclination to jump and climb.
In addition, many farmers have become accustomed to using them as "bait" for grazing flocks. Sheep at the moment of danger huddle together, creating chaos in the ranks, which makes them vulnerable to the attack of a predator. If among them there was a fainting goat, then she saved the herd, sacrificing herself. When attacked by a pack of wolves or coyotes, she “fainted” and fell into the mouth of a predator, when, like the others, there was a chance to escape from sharp teeth.
In the 1950s, Texas ranchers bought several animals and brought them to their state. Gradually, the popularity of the "wooden goat" (another nickname for these animals) began to decline, it was replaced by breeds with better characteristics.
Over time, their numbers began to decline steadily and reached a critical level. In 1988, they had to be included on the American Livestock Conservation Priority List and declared an endangered breed. They still appear on this list, although the goat population is growing thanks to farmers, who in most cases raise them out of interest.
Why do goats faint?
So what is the reason for this strange behavior of the animal? If in the wild they were numb at every danger, then most likely not a single individual would have survived to our time, since no one canceled natural selection. Goats would be "convenient" food for predators.
But this goat is a pet, so she survived and recently returned to fame thanks to YouTube. The videos with their participation are gaining a large number of views, and numerous tourists come to the farms to chat with these amazing goats.
But, in fact, when frightened, the goat does not faint, there is no need to talk about a subtle spiritual nature here, and paralysis is short-term. Fainting is a short-term loss of consciousness due to a lack of oxygen in the brain. A fallen animal, on the other hand, is fully conscious, but cannot move due to muscle problems.
In the video below, you can see an overview of these amazing swoon goats:
All individuals of the unconscious breed have a congenital disease - myotonia. This is a genetically determined pathology that belongs to the category of neuromuscular ailments. It is characterized by delayed muscle relaxation. After the attack, the goat, as if nothing had happened, gets back on its feet and goes about its business.
Description of the animal and breed standards
The unconscious breed of goat is also known as the Tennessee or Myotonic. Until now, there is a debate about its recognition at the world level, but so far to no avail. In the USA, which is considered the homeland of goats, it is unconditionally considered a separate breed. Now representatives of this breed belong to protected animals and are under protection.
European breeders cannot agree with this opinion and single it out as a separate breed, since each breed must have exact characteristics (standard) in terms of exterior, interior and productivity. However, Tennessee goats have nothing in common, except for the specific behavior caused by a genetic mutation. The goats are so diverse in appearance that it is difficult to determine whether it is a myotonic goat or not.
The faint goat belongs to the meat type, since myotonia contributes to the growth of muscle mass. Therefore, it is distinguished by a large yield of meat, which is famous for its delicate taste.
Characteristics
There is a Myotonic Goat Registry that tracks purebred members of this breed for the following:
- Head and profile. Concave or straight "Roman" head profile, medium-sized head with a wide rounded muzzle.
- Nose. The nose is of medium length, broad and flat.
- Eyes. Bulging, brown with a blue tint.
- Forehead. Slightly convex wide forehead.
- Horns. In most cases, goats have horns, they can be any size - from small to large, and shapes - from simple to twisted. Hornless representatives are also allowed.
- Ears. Of medium size, directed horizontally or slightly forward towards the muzzle.
- Neck. Short, muscular. In males, the skin on the neck can be wrinkled and thick.
- Back. Wide, strong and straight.
- Colour. The color palette is varied, in recent years, preference is given to black and white. The skin can be monochromatic or with different patterns, marks, spots.
- Wool. The hair is short or long. Thick coat, smooth or shaggy, but straight. There should be no wavy coat. Goats with long, shaggy coats are more resistant to adverse weather conditions.
- Legs. They are proportional to the body, strong, even.
- Hooves. Symmetrically located in relation to each other.
Depending on the population (Texas or Tennessee), the height at the withers varies from 45 to 70 cm. In Tennessee, they are engaged in breeding a dwarf breed intended for keeping at home. In Texas, the emphasis is on the meat component of the animal.
However, the main characteristic is the presence of congenital myotonia. The goat, which never falls into a stupor, but has all the characteristic features of the breed, is not used for further reproduction.
Character
Strong positive and negative experiences - from fright to seeing a lot of favorite food - cause paralysis in goats. They are impressionable, nervous natures, but on the other hand, they are calm, peaceful, avoid conflicts, are distinguished by inactivity, laziness. They cannot be seen galloping over hedges and frolicking or climbing mountains. Females have a well-developed maternal instinct.
If you are planning to adopt these animals, then you should purchase at least two individuals. Goats are social animals that need constant contact with their relatives.
Health status
Animals have good immunity to various diseases, are resistant to parasites, adapt well to adverse conditions, but are prone to cardiovascular diseases.
The attacks of paralysis themselves are not harmful to their health, but they come suddenly. Therefore, the animal may fall unsuccessfully or bump into some sharp object.
Productivity
Goats gain maximum weight by age 4. The mass of representatives of the Tennessee branch varies from 35 to 45 kg, while that of the Texas branch is 40-75 kg. Rarely, the weight of a goat can reach 90 kg. The taste of the meat is high. It is tender, tasty and low in fat. The meat to bone ratio is 4: 1.
Females are highly fertile and have a strong maternal instinct. The birth of twins or triplets is not uncommon for them, while the goat does an excellent job with its offspring and feeds everyone. Genetic pathology is passed down through the generation.
It is impractical to cross them with other breeds, since the kids are hidden carriers of this gene, and after a few generations, babies with deviations may be born. In addition, due to the fact that the population of these nervous goats is small, experts advocate for the purebred animals to save them from extinction.
Keeping swoon goats
Goats are unpretentious and undemanding to care for. Their life expectancy is 12-15 years on average. They feed on their own in the summer, eating herbs, leaves, twigs of bushes. They are fed with grain and hay. Salt, mineral additives and clean, fresh water must be always available. The water is poured into a shallow container so that in the event of a fall, the animal does not choke.
The diet is adjusted depending on the season. Goats are a ruminant with 4 stomachs. Each of which contains certain bacteria. It is they who process food and make it digestible for the goat's body.
Be sure to have roughage and fiber in the daily menu. They promote the proper functioning of the digestive system and help move food through the gastrointestinal tract.
Any changes in the menu are carried out gradually, starting with small doses in order to avoid disturbance of the microflora of the rumen. The dose of grain should not be more than 50% of the total feed volume, as this provokes the development of acidosis. With this disease, animals either completely refuse food, or eat very little, she is worried about diarrhea, she becomes indifferent to everything that happens. In severe cases, the animal dies.
Overeating also causes serious health problems.
Ideal for walking, but only in remote pastures, where there is no noise from operating equipment and a large crowd of people.
Human interaction
If earlier the "wooden" goat was used most often as a bait to save the herd, and also served as a source of tasty meat, now they are bred more often for the entertainment of people. In America, there are special farms that are very popular with tourists.
Scientists have still not been able to explain this phenomenon and the reasons for its occurrence. Every year, fans of swoon goats come to Tennessee in October for a holiday dedicated to these nervous natures, and hold all kinds of contests and fairs.
The peculiarity of the unusual behavior of swooning goats is directly related to a rare genetic disease - myotonia. Farmers do not breed only this type of goat, since they consider it impractical. But goats are distinguished by their kind disposition and unpretentiousness, therefore, they are often bred as decorative ones to attract and entertain tourists.