Jen Graves (The Stranger’s former arts critic) mostly writes about things you approach with your eyeballs. But she’s also a history nerd interested in anything that needs more talking about, from male... More by Jen Graves
Myotonic Goats: Many People Call Them Fainting Goats, Wooden-Leg Goats, Stiff-Leg Goats, Nervous Goats, Tennessee Goats, and Tennessee Meat Goats
Comments are closed.
This was already covered on Slog two years ago.
Was it really two years ago? It seems more recent than that. But, yeah. We’ve done seen that here before.
Will someone be posting a video of a CGI dancing baby? How about a clip of a monkey putting its finger in its butt, sniffing it, and then falling off a branch? Any other groundbreaking media you want to bring to our attention before someone else “SCOOPS” the story?
What is the evolutionary function of fainting when you feel that you are in danger? It seems like evolution should have eliminated this species or at least that trait a long time ago!
Why not just link to the Fark feed for the snarky comments, too!?!?!
Must be the stuff of folklore and magic:
a creature so impossibly tragic.
I believe a pig can take wing,
but a Scare Goat is such an impossible thing.
I’m the cryptozookeeper, true believer,
unicorn-chasing centaur seeker.
I’ll accept what I cannot see,
but the fainting goat is too much for me.
I’m the myth truster when facts are lackluster.
but myotonia congenita is too much, sir.
I’ll accept what I cannot see,
but not the fainting G O A T.
Can we fatten their livers up? I’m hungry.
d
It was a rare mutation somewhere in Tennessee. The owner of that goat then selected FOR the trait. Presumably if these guys were out in the wilderness without humans they’d get eaten pretty quick.
#3 wins!
I’ve been to parties like that…
#4, I was thinking the same thing. If you were a wolf, this would have to be the easiest meal, ever.
The breeding and promotion of this genetic mutation is typical of the pet industry mentality where living creatures are merely flesh for fantasy. No extent of life degrading inbreeding is too much if it provides amusement for pedigree fetishists or connoisseurs of biological abnormality. Gee, don’t living things make wonderful toys?
@ 0:50 FTW!
Huh. I truly hadn’t seen that before. It was worth a laff, at least. So thank you, sir. I liked it.
What about the Mountain Goats?
…ignore me, I’m drunk.
The mutation was bred for with the idea that if a fainting goat was put in with other goats, the coyotes (or other prey) would get the fainter, and leave the ‘good’ goats get away. Good, if not warped, concept.
Or you could call them Democratic Party goats – they roll over when intimidated.