Greetings from PineRidge!

We are a small farm located near De Soto National Forest about 20 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico, in rural Harrison County, Mississippi. We raise registered Myotonic goats, a medium-sized heritage landrace breed, also known as Tennessee Fainting, Texas Wooden Leg, Mountain Ghost, Nervous, Stiff-Leg, Scare, and Peg-Leg goats.

Fainting goats do not actually faint - they are conscious during the entire process. What happens is that when a goat is surprised and starts, the muscles contract, and stay that way for up to 10 seconds. This is due to a genetic condition known as myotonia congenita, and is found in other species as well as goats.

The effects of myotonia range from mere stiffening in the leg(s), where the goat’s knees are locked, to a complete stiffening of the body, where if the goat is off-balance it will fall over. The condition does not harm the goat. Rather it is very similar to isometrics (a form of resistance training) used by bodybuilders; and creates greater, denser, leaner, more toned muscling. It is also very handy when you need to catch a reluctant goat. If you would like, you can read more about the condition here.

All PineRidge goats are registered with the Myotonic Goat Registry, unless noted otherwise. Our herd has tested negative for Johne's, CL, CAE, and will be re-tested annually. Goats are handled and inspected regularly, hooves are trimmed, kids are handled from birth and trained to lead. Fecal samples are regularly checked by our vet for parasites, and the goats are wormed on an as-needed basis, so as not to increase parasite resistance. The herd receives daily supplementary feed and free-choice minerals in addition to browse and pasture. Also we keep guineas for parasite control and a few Silky chickens for eggs, along with our assortment of pets.

Our herd is small at this time, but growing. Myotonics are a relatively quiet breed; ours have not shown any tendency towards being escape artists, and they are generally sweet-tempered goats. They are good mothers, usually with little or no complications during kidding, and two to three kids are normal for each birthing. When Fainter bucks are crossed with equal or larger sized does, (Boer, Nubian, Spanish, etc...) the offspring have superb hybrid vigor.

Kids will occasionally be offered for sale, and does are bred to kid from late fall through spring. We aim to raise sound, well-built, healthy, hardy animals, with an eye towards temperament and color. Currently we feature Mississippi moon spot genetics as expressed in the Patterson's Menagerie and Putt Putt Farms bloodlines. Our senior herdsire, Patterson Menagerie's Hercules is the last known original Mississippi moon spotted buck. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

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