Myotonic (Tennessee Fainting)
Have a Myotonic (Tennessee Fainting) to sell? List it.Recovering on the Conservation Priority List, 2026 edition
About Myotonic (Tennessee Fainting) goats
This breed answers to a lot of names: Myotonic, Tennessee Fainting, Tennessee Meat, Texas Wooden Leg, Stiff, Nervous and Scare goat.
The history starts in the 1880s, when an itinerant farm laborer named John Tinsley arrived in central Tennessee, reportedly from Nova Scotia, with four unusual stiff goats. His employer, Dr. Mayberry, bought the goats and their offspring off him, and the type spread through the region from there.
Farmers kept them for practical reasons. They are heavily muscled, reproduce well, and they are far less inclined to climb a fence and leave than other goats, which is a real advantage to anyone who has tried to contain goats.
In the 1950s some went to the hill country of central Texas and were selected further for meat and size, which is where the Wooden Leg name comes from.
The famous trait is myotonia congenita. When the goat is startled, its muscle cells hold a prolonged contraction. The popular name describes what that looks like rather than what is happening.
They forage actively and resist parasites well.
Sourced from The Livestock Conservancy and the breed’s registry, reviewed by HoofnHorn.
No Myotonic (Tennessee Fainting) goats at auction right now.
Heritage breeds come up in ones and twos, so this is normal. We will email you the moment a Myotonic (Tennessee Fainting) is listed.