Courtesy of Danielle Langloism, Wikipedia CCLFainting Goats: Stop, Drop & Roll
Myotonic goats, aka Fainting Goats, originally were bred as bait for wolves and coyotes. Farmers ran fainting goats with flocks of sheep, hoping a predator would stop and snatch the downed goat, giving the more valuable sheep time to escape.
The fainting — actually a temporary paralysis — is caused by the hereditary genetic disorder myotonia congenita. When a Myotonic goat is startled, it’s limbs stiffen and it falls to the ground and slowly rolls over to expose its belly. It’s captured here in this video.
WARNING: Read no further if you are politically correct or oppose the use of myotonic goats for wedding entertainment.
Naimhe Jeanne got married two years ago and celebrated with family and friends on her farm in Illinois. In her herd at the time was a mixed breed pygmy/fainting goat named Polly.
Naimhe Jeanne’s husband gathered the celebratory — and rather citified — clan around the barn yard fence and sounded an horn air, causing Polly to jump in the air, plop on her side and and roll belly up.
Polly was popular with the city folk that day and exceedingly grateful when the party ended and they all went home.
