also known as the Nervous, Myotonic, or Wooden Leg goat

The Nervous Goat story is told by most Tennessee folks as starting in the 1800's with a migrant farmworker appeared with a few goats and a sacred cow. Thought to be from Nova Scotia, this stranger settled long enough to marry, farm the land for a season, and leave his goats behind before heading off with his cow. Another local resident of Marshall County Tennessee who continued to breed these 'nervous' goats.

The goats became part of Marshall County history, they can be seen scattered along the countryside as you drive through the area famous for the Tennessee Walking Horse Association (TWHBEA), and of course, their goats. Every year, in Lewisburg, there is a grand celebration called "Goats Music and More Festival", and there is even a statue of a Fainting Goat in City Hall.

Goats Music and More

Meat Goats, Preservation, Pets

The Tennessee Fainting Goat is in the meat goat category. Known for high meat to bone ratio, this medium sized goat is easy to raise, exhibits qualities such as excellent mothering skills, easy gain on browse (no concentrates) and high parasite resistance.

As a landrace breed, the fainters have been added to Slow Food's Ark of Taste, and is listed in American Livestock Breed Conservancy's Conservation Priority List. It is important to preserve this rare breed, and easy to do so, given the fainting goat's fit to most of America's climate. They definitely thrive where other meat goats fail to deal with the damp, sometimes cold hills of Tennessee and similar temperate areas.

In the 80's a pet market emerged for Fainting Goats, as the quirky myotonic behavior is also seen as a novelty. The Myotonic goats are calm, easily trained and pleasurable pets. This market has spawned new colorations, blue eyes, long hair, as well as other stylish additions to an already beautiful goat.

American Livestock Breed Conservancy Conservation Priority List
Slow Food USA Ark of Taste

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