I have the opportunity to purchase a few T.F. goats, but I don't know much about them. Would like to hear about their temperament, medical problems, "trainability" to fences, are they big jumpers, and specific needs, if any. Thanks.

-- TD Matheny (theny@intrex.net), February 23, 2002

Answers

I have 3 fainting goats, all about 2 years old. I absolutely adore them. They aren't big jumpers at all. I think they instinctively know how dangerous that would be for them. The only time mine have gotten out of the pasture (due to an improperly closed latch) they actually walked up on my deck and looked in the window to find me. They are really no more difficult than any other breed of goat. However, you do have a higher obligation to keep them safe from predators, because a very frightened fainting goat is likely to "faint" and will be unable to get away. Mine faint the most when they are very excited--like when I bring out some grain in the morning. As I said, I've only had these guys for 2 years, but they've needed no medical attention outside of the typical preventative care (worming, vaccinations, hoof trimming, etc). They are friendly, do a great job eating back the overgrown brush around our place (even poison oak) and will amuse you for hours. There is a great organization: The International Fainting Goat Association. You can check them out at www.faintinggoat.com. I'd be happy to answer any other questions or give you links to more fainting goat sites.

-- Mary S. in OR (1deal@quik.com), February 23, 2002.

Try the Onion Creek Ranch website that Suzanne Gassaparotto has. In fact the name Tenessee Meat Goat is her TM and copyrighted. Here is a brief defination from her website. Her website is most complete for information and her goats originate from mytonic goats or "fainters." Here is the URL:

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/

At Onion Creek Ranch near Buda, Texas, we created the Tennessee Meat Goat™ by selectively breeding fullblood Myotonic goats. Taking the largest and most heavily-muscled fullblood Myotonic goats from each generation and breeding them to unrelated fullblood Myotonics to emphasize muscle content and frame size, we developed quality herd sires and dams that serious producers need to improve their stock.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), February 23, 2002.

This is a fascinating subject, and I am glad TD asked the question. How interesting. Goats that are part 'possum! LOL Seriously, had no idea there was a meat breed such as this. I will be watching this thread. I am amazed at the different and amazing breeds of animals that man has developed. Wow! LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 23, 2002.

Hey....does a fainting goat need a fainting couch? LOL!

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

Fainting goats...

well, I have a friend that has about 100+ of these Myotonic goats and the first time I saw them faint I just cracked up! I wasn't sure what was funnier....the goats fainting (got stiff actually) or watching my friend running around the pasture flailing her arms and whooping and hollering trying to make them faint!

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), February 23, 2002.

A plus for fainters is you can worm and give it their shots while they are bound up.

-- snow white (gawmonk@misn.com), February 24, 2002.