An American landrace goat famous for myotonia congenita, a hereditary condition that causes the muscles to stiffen and the animal to topple when startled. Hardy, docile and parasite-resistant, it is kept as a meat goat, brush-clearer and increasingly as a pet.
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Variable landrace; roughly 17-25 in (43-64 cm) at the withers. Weight ranges widely from about 60 lb (27 kg) in smaller animals to 175 lb (80 kg) in larger meat
Lifespan
12–15 years
Social needs
group
Native region
United States
Family
Bovidae
Genus
Capra
Part of the Goat breeds
Recognized goat breeds — selectively bred for type, purpose, and appearance.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Pair + browse + climbing
2+ goats / 0.25 ac dry-lot + 3-sided shed + 5 ft fence
Goats are herd browsers — keep at least two with climbing, browse, minerals, and clean dry shelter. Myotonic 'fainting' goats stiffen when startled — gentle but easier prey for predators, so secure fencing matters.
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Recommended
Rotational paddock
0.5 ac per goat + barn + rotation
Rotational paddocks reduce parasite load; barn for kidding/shelter.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Pasture + working farm
1+ ac per goat + barn
Managed pasture + browse, parasite + hoof + breeder schedule. Myotonic 'fainting' goats stiffen when startled — gentle but easier prey for predators, so secure fencing matters.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
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Newborn
Newborn mammals are nursed on their mother's milk. Many are born helpless — blind, deaf, and sparsely furred (altricial, as in dogs, cats, and rodents) — while others stand and follow within hours (precocial, as in hoofed livestock).
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Juvenile
After weaning, juveniles grow quickly and become increasingly active, playful, and independent. Adult coat, proportions, and (in many species) the permanent teeth come in as they approach full size.
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Adult
Adults reach full body size and sexual maturity, with the species' mature coat and build. Sexual dimorphism — differences in size, mane, horns, or markings — is pronounced in some mammals and subtle in others.
Photo coming soon
Senior
Senior animals show aging signs such as graying fur, reduced activity, and a greater need for veterinary monitoring of joints, teeth, and organ function. Lifespan and the onset of old age vary widely by species and size.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Pasture or browse with a draft-free three-sided shelter or simple barn. Standard 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) woven-wire or field fencing is adequate; because the myotonia limits jumping and climbing, this breed is notably easier to contain than most goats. Provide dry bedding, shade, and a raised area for resting. As a herd animal it should never be kept alone.
Diet
Primarily browse, brush and good-quality pasture or grass hay. A loose goat mineral (copper- and selenium-supplemented; never sheep mineral) and clean water must always be available. Grain is needed only for late-gestation does, lactating does, and growing kids; over-feeding grain causes obesity and risks urinary calculi in wethers and bucks.
Behavior & temperament
Calm, gentle, quiet and easy to handle, making them excellent for beginners, children and as pets. Purpose is dual meat/pet, with heavy-muscled lines selected for meat. The 'fainting' is a muscular stiffening (not loss of consciousness or pain); the goat stays fully aware and recovers within seconds. They are less inclined to climb and escape than other breeds.
Health
Defined by myotonia congenita, an inherited recessive trait that is not itself harmful but causes stiffening when startled. Welfare note: stiff goats are vulnerable to predators and to injury from falls, and should not be kept where they can fall into water, off ledges, or be chased by dogs. The breed is otherwise robust, with good parasite resistance and easy kidding. Routine concerns are barber-pole worm (Haemonchus), coccidiosis in kids, hoof rot if kept wet, and CAE/CL biosecurity.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Buy from registered Myotonic Goat Registry stock to preserve the traditional type. Use FAMACHA scoring rather than blanket deworming to manage parasites. Avoid startling them near hazards, and keep guardian dogs that are bonded and gentle (a chasing dog can panic and injure a herd). Trim hooves every 6-8 weeks. Their reduced jumping makes a simple field fence sufficient, but a guardian animal or secure night pen protects against predators.