Myotonic "Fainting" Goats

Myotonic goats are often called fainting goats, but there are other names for this breed as well. The breed is a multi-purpose goat originally from Tennessee. Myotonic goats are known for their docile temperament, for having myotonia congenita (responsible for their stiffness or "fainting"), for an abundance of high quality muscle and a stocky build, they are good at adapting to low-input forage-based feeding systems, they are genetically distant from other goat breeds, they are quieter than many other goat breeds, and parasite-resistant. Myotonic goats are great at clearing out overgrown properties. They eat many different plants, including poison ivy, and love variety in their food. They come in all colors, patterns, and coat length. They can be horned or polled (naturally born without horns). They are generally considered good mothers. We have not had to bottle feed any of the kids born on our farm.

Myotonic goats come in varying sizes. The medium to large animals are used for meat production, they usually weigh from 80 to 175 pounds, though they can weigh up to 200 pounds. The smaller animals are generally sought after as pets and they can be as light as 50 pounds. Myotonics make great pets because unlike other goats they cannot jump, so they are easier to house. They are also very sweet and can be friendly. The best goats for pets and companions are females and wethers because bucks can be more aggressive and they smell. Myotonic goats are also show goats and since our buck and one of our does are registered our kids can be shown. These goats can also be milked, but they are not a dairy goat breed, so they do not produce a lot of milk.

There are varying levels of stiffness in this breed. Some Myotonic goats never stiffen, while, on the opposite end of the spectrum, a goat may always move stiffly and readily lock up and fall over. In our herd, it is common for the goats to stiffen occasionally. Usually their back legs stiffen up more than their front legs and they can still move. If they are really startled, they may fall over. Because Myotonic goats have myotonia congenita, the adults cannot jump. This means that unlike other goat breeds, you do not have to worry about the goats jumping over fences and escaping.

In 2022 we purchased and added Tennessee Meat Goat, Tiberius, to our heard from Onion Creek Ranch. We have several Tennesee Meat Goat/Myotonic crosses in our farm.

Information is from the Myotonic Goat Registry.

Our Bucks

Bucky Barnes (Minyard's Texas Heat) D9749

Our main buck, Bucky Barnes, is registered with the Myotonic Goat Registry. His registered name is Minyard's Texas Heat. Bucky was born on April 5th, 2019. He is a polled, 100% Myotonic goat. He has lines from Tennessee and Texas. He is a 5 on the scale of myotonia. Bucky's coloring is tan and white with chocolate. He is moonspotted with blue eyes.

Tiberius (OCR Dalton) #2692 - DECEASED

Tiberius is a full blood Tennessee Meat Goat from Onion Creek Ranch. We got him to add diversity to our herds genetics and to add muscle to our herd. He was born March 5th, 2021.

Thor - SOLD

Thor is an unregistered myotonic buck. He was born on January 15th, 2021. His parents are Bucky Barnes (Minyard's Texas Heat) and Big Mama. He is light brown and white. He is horned.

Chip - SOLD

Chip or Chippy is an unregistered myotonic buck. He is polled and very friendly. He loves to be pet and is a little bit of an attention hog. Chip was born April 4th, 2020. His parents are Bucky (Minyard's Texas Heat) and Coco.

Nugget

Nugget is an unregistered myotonic buck. He is brown with white, horned, and blue eyed. He is a heavy set and muscular boy who is very friendly. Nugget was born March 5, 2022 and his parents are Chip and Daisy. He is Daisy's first kid.

Hammer - SOLD

Hammer is an unregistered myotonic buck. He was born February 25, 2022. His sire is Thor and his dam is Dany (Minyard's Darling), his twin is Camilia. Hammer is the spitting image of his father.

Jack

Jack was born on May 20th, 2022. His parents are Pepper and Thor, both unregistered myotonic goats. His twin sister is Bell.

Jasper

Jasper was born on June 7th, 2022. His parents are Tiger Lily and Thor. His twin sister is Sage. Jasper is a beautiful moonspotted young buck.

Spotty

Spotty was born on March 8, 2023. His sire is Bucky and his dam is Tulip. Spotty is a naturally polled, moonspotted young buck.

Kirk

Kirk was born on March 27, 2023. Kirk is a Tennessee Meat Goat/Myotonic cross. His sire is Tiberius (OCR Dalton) and his dam is Daisy. Kirk is polled, beige buckling.

V

V was born on April 7, 2023. V is a Tennessee Meat Goat/Myotonic cross. His sire is Tiberius (OCR Dalton) and his dam is Dany (Minyard's Darling). V is a horned, light brown buckling.

Pirate

Pirate was born on January 9th, 2024. Pirate is a Tennessee Meat Goat/Myotonic cross. His sire is Tiberius (OCR Dalton) and his dam is Tiger Lily. He is a white, horned buckling with brown spots. He is Lilac's twin brother.

Reese

Reese was born on January 19th, 2024. Reese is a Tennessee Meat Goat/Myotonic cross. His sire is Tiberius (OCR Dalton) and his dam is Oreo. He is a buckskin, horned buckling. His twin brother is Double Stuf.

Our Does

Registered Does

All registered does are registered with the Myotonic Goat Registry.

Dany (Minyard's Darling) D9757

Dany is our oldest registered doe. She is polled. Dany was born on April 21st, 2019.

Truffles E6776

Truffles is one of Big Mama's kids. She is mostly brown, polled, and moon spotted. Truffles is Daisy's twin. She was born on April 13, 2020.

Daisy E6775 - SOLD

Daisy is one of Big Mama's kids. She is light brown and white and polled. Daisy is Truffles' twin. She was born on April 13, 2020.

Blondie E6774 - Harvested 12/04/24

Blondie is Brownie's first kid. She is white and light brown. She does have horns. Blondie was born on June 15th, 2020. Blondie, like her mother, may have cashmere.

Fay E9596 - Harvested 12/04/24

Fay is Brownie's second girl. She is white and brown with moonspots. She does have horns. Fay and Toffi were born on June 2nd, 2021.

Tiger Lily E6772

Tiger Lily is Pepper's first kid. She is moon spotted and horned. Tiger Lily was born on December 30th, 2020.

Cookie E9597 - SOLD

Cookie is Coco's first girl and second kid that we are keeping. She is white and brown with horns. She was born on May 21st, 2021.

Almond Joy F2952

Almond Joy was born on February 25, 2022. Her sire is Bucky (Minyard's Texas Heat) and her dam is Oreo, her twin is Milky Way. She is horned with blue eyes. Almond Joy is dark brown, light brown and white with moonspots.

Camelia F2950

Camelia, or Cami, was born February 25, 2022. Her sire is Thor and her dam is Dany (Minyard's Darling), her twin is Hammer. She is all white and horned with blue eyes.

Unregistered Does

Some of our unregistered does can be registered.

Big Mama

Big Mama is our oldest doe and herd alpha. Her genetics are prevelant in our herd and she is a fantastic mother.

Tulip

Tulip is our second oldest doe and herd beta.

Pepper

Pepper was the first goat born on our property. She was born on April, 29th, 2019 to Daffy, an unregistered myotonic doe that is no longer on our farm, her sire is unknown.

Oreo

Oreo was born on July 23, 2019. Her mother is Big Mama, the sire is unknown, and Brownie is her twin.

Sage

Sage was born on June 7th, 2022. His parents are Tiger Lily and Thor. Her twin brother is Jasper. She is registrable with MGR but has not yet been registered.

Biscotti

Biscotti was born on April 4, 2023. Her sire is Henri and her dam is Lily from another farm. We traded for Biscotti to diversify our herd genetics. Biscotti is a horned, buckskin doeling.

Cream

Cream was born on May 1, 2023. Her sire is Tiberius (OCR Dalton) and her dam is Cookie. She is a horned, white and tan doeling.

Lilac

Lilac was born on January 9th, 2024. Lilac is a Tennessee Meat Goat/Myotonic cross. Her sire is Tiberius (OCR Dalton) and her dam is Tiger Lily. She is a horned, white doeling with pale cream. Pirate is her twin brother.

Bluebell

Bluebell was born on January 10th, 2024. Bluebell is a Tennessee Meat Goat/Myotonic cross. Her sire is Tiberius (OCR Dalton) and her dam is Tulip. She is a horned, white doeling with brown spots. Blossom is her twin sister.

Blossom

Blossom was born on January 10th, 2024. Blossom is a Tennessee Meat Goat/Myotonic cross. Her sire is Tiberius (OCR Dalton) and her dam is Tulip. She is a horned, white doeling with brown spots. Bluebell is her twin sister.

Taffy

Taffy was born on February 4th, 2024. Her sire is Bucky (Minyard's Texas Heat) and her dam is Big Mama. She is a horned, white doeling, with a brown shoulder section.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg was born on February 27th, 2024. Her sire is Spotty and her dam is Sage. She is a horned, white and cream doeling.