Fainting Goats now HOT Pets
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Countless pet lovers consider their dogs — and cats — like their very own children. I can attest to it, I’m one of them. But Wayne and Kathy Gillett have to be cautious around their kids — they never know when one might faint. That’s because their brood are actually ‘fainting goats’.
The slightest incident will trigger a fainting spell — opening an umbrella or the sound of footsteps from behind — could startle their pets Blake, Andy and Anabella, and they’re down for the count. Photo Flawedartist
In mere seconds, it’s as if a drunken stupor takes over them. First, the goats flee. Then one will stumble and drop to its side, stiff as a board and fully conscious. Another will freeze mid-sprint when its hind and front legs have met under their stomach and be fixed in position for 10 to 15 seconds.
It’s unknown where fainting goats originated, but there are speculations that they carry a recessive gene that causes myotonia congenital — a condition causing muscle stiffness, reports CJOnline.
The novelty of these goats has made them popular as pets worldwide, reversing the threat of its extinction. Thousands of fainting goats are kept as pets in the US to breed, or for meat.
The Gilletts adopted their first nanny named Annie 3 years ago. Kathy didn’t realize how endearing Annie and her young would become to them.
“You become their herd. They graze nearby like a dog.” she said. “I can’t believe how in love with them I can be. People get them 
because of their temperament. Not a lot of insects bother them, they are healthy animals and they are easy to keep, especially in a small area.”
Darell Clumpke, vice president of the International Fainting Goat Association, bought two goats at an exotic animal sale in Mecca, Mo. 5 years ago. He bred them and currently has 30 registered goatson his acreage in Emporia. He sells them across the Midwest for $250.
“When you sell them when they’re registered, they’re worth more.” Clumpke said. “I make enough to pay the feed bills over time, but I
don’t make money. It’s more a hobby than anything else.” He even has people drive by his farm and ask just to see the goats, he said.
Stephanie Dicke, secretary of the Fainting Goat Association, said the goats’ history is undocumented, but it’s believed that in the early 1800s, a migrant farm worker from Nova Scotia, Canada, appeared in Marshall County, Tenn., with four fainting goats.
She said the man worked for a doctor, and when he left the state, he left the goats. The doctor tried to perpetuate the breed, she said. His efforts were a success at the time, namely for ranchers who begin using the breed as ‘sacrificial goats’. Photo top Vtrengr4047, center CountryDreaming, bottom Ucumar
Ruth Prentice, the Goat Association’s treasurer, said the fainters risked extinction because they were the first to go when a predator lurked on the ranchers’ property to attack unsuspecting valuable cattle. “A predator is not going to chase something when one has dropped at its feet.” she said.
the International Fainting Goat Association formed in 1989 to preserve the four-stiff-legged creatures. A few hundred members are scattered across the country. The registrar is in Marshall County, Tenn., where the goats were originally bred.
About 9,000 goats are registered with the International Fainting Goat Association, “a mere drop in the bucket.” Prentice said.
Not everyone subscribes to the idea that the goats carry a recessive gene causing them to ‘faint’.
Andrea Minicozzi, the association’s webmaster, has studied this muscle condition for the past three years. She’s convinced there isn’t a recessive gene, and said she is suspicious as to its parallel to the human condition caused by myotonia congenita called Thomsen’s disease.
“I am currently talking with some folks who may be able to DNA test for the specific (gene) mutation.” she said.
The science behind the novel trait doesn’t seem to matter to breeders, particularly Eddie Taylor. His grandfather raised fainters in the 1920s, and he has followed suit on his 120 acres in Louisburg.
“I hear people talk about studies done on them.” Taylor said. “I don’t know why they are the way they are — God made them way they are.”
Fainting Goats – National Geographic
Goats that faint? Don’t ever tell these guys to drop dead.
Fainting Goats
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Wow, I’ve never heard of such a thing! One thing that wasn’t quite clear: do people like them as pets because of their nature, or just as a sort of side show, freak the neighbor kids out kind of thing?
Hi Emily,
I have heard of them before, but hadn’t seen anything very detailed until now.
Nothing was written in the information in regards to why they’re so popular other than what I wrote here, so one can only surmise. I’d think that it would be a combination of the 2, part freaky nature behavior along with its loveability as an animal in its own right.
If they didn’t make for good pets, the novelty would be short lived, and they’d be goat stew, putting it bluntly. It happens even with dogs and cats … people that are irresponsible pet owners and lose interest in their pets will even abandon them, leaving them to fend for themselves on the streets.
Considering they’ve gained such popularity, my guess is that they’re very good animals as pets.
Alright, I’m going to come right out and say it, that first picture is one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen.
I had no idea these things existed. I must say though, if I had $250 to throw around, I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
I’m with you Morriconei! It was love at first sight when I saw this baby goat!
But I’d need a lot more than $250 as I’d have to buy an acreage to go along with it
well these goats take ‘playing dead’ to a whole new dimension don’t they…Deborah……fantastic post…..and I want a goat just like that cute white one !!!!!
Care to pool our pennies together for an acreage so we can get some Kim
haha I’ll see what I can organize…..all we have to do is sell our blogs….mines now worth about $85,000.00..lol
Oy, you go girl!
oh my god
they are lovely
aren’t they?
i really want to own one.
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i have never heard of them before. they are soo cute.
those are sooo cute – but i have to admit that i prefer dogs or cats for pets.
If you would like more informayion about the breed, feel free to contact us…if we can not answer your questions, we are sure we know another breeder who will be able to help.
We had never heard of the FAINTERS till Summer 2007 when we were looking for a companion for a Nubian we bought as a pet, by the time we left the farm we visited we had bought a total of 3, and now just a little over a year we have close to 60.
COME JOIN US…..Fainters are mostly loved because of their personalities, not cause of fainting. They can make great house pets too, just ask anyone who has had one in their home for one reason or another.
Very interesting
While it may seem unusual to have a fainting goat as a house pet, there are certainly other creatures even more so, such as horses, and even a hippopotamus which we’ve covered on this site.
do fainting goats and dogs get along. We have a 4 yr old pome
These goats are so funny! I just saw a T.V. show on them and I couldn’t believe it at first, but sure enough they for real faint.
.-= Joshua´s last blog ..Tax Relief Attorney =-.
What all of this fainting goat coverage neglects to cover is the fact that there are people who suffer from this same condition. For anyone who thinks that this is funny or cute, think of the implications of having this yourself, or perhaps your sister, or your brother. It is not funny, nor is it cute. That’s all I have to say.
ROFL these goats are f***ingg hilarious ima buy one and just scare it all day they are so dumb
i now raise these goats ther awsome animals
iswear they are awsome pets and ther babys are
amazing just to let u guys know im turning 16
and these guys make the best FFA/4-H project
bye guys!