"Fainting," or "Stiff Legged" Goats

In appearance these goats seem to be exactly like any other ordinary goat, having about the usual size and varied color markings. They have so far only produced kids once a year and are, therefore, not so prolific as the ordinary goat.

The interesting and peculiar thing about them is the fact that on being suddenly startled in any manner they fall to the ground with their entire bodies becoming perfectly rigid and stiff, giving the appearance of an epileptic fit or of an animal suffering from convulsions. This condition lasts for about 10 of fiftenn seconds after which the animal arises and walks off, showing a decided stiffness especially in the posterior limbs for some little distance, after which thime the animal walks and acts just as any other goat. These "fits" or "fainting" spells can be produced or brought on by any sudden excitement which will startle them. A sudden loud noise, a sudden appearance, or a combination of the two will always produce the reaction. On the other hand, if one should walk slowly in plain view toward the goats they will not fall to the fround but will merely show a stiffness in their hind legs when they begin to move away. Another peculiar characteristic is that the goats cannot jump a fence even as low as three feet from the ground, they cannot jump up into feed troughs, nor can they jump a ditch of more than two of three feet in width. The attempt to either jump a fence or ditch brings on stiffness of muscles and, in some cases, causes them to fall to the ground in a "faint."

This strange phenomenon is seen in all of hte offspring of the pure bred goats without exception. The very yound kids often fail to show any indication of being so affected but as they acquire a little age the characteristic becomes more and more marked, so that before the animal is one year of age the characteristic is fully developed.

After coming into possession of these goats practically twelve years ago I have made numerous efforts to acquire information concerning them. I have heard of a number of flocks in several states, especially in Tennessee, the northern part of Alabama and in Kentucky. Wherever I have heard of such flocks, I have made inquiries and have without exception traced them back to the original four goats which were brought into Marchall County, Tennessee shortly after 1880.

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