Fainting goats.. wtf?

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Brock

Senior Member
Location
Kent
Whenever I'm bored I can always make myself guffaw with glee at fainting goats, but what kind of evolutionary f**k up can possibly account for such an obviously useless feature in an animal? Does it stop them running off cliffs when startled by a thunder clap or something?
 

Cathryn

Legendary Member
We saw those in the States a few summers ago. I spent about 10 mins trying to make them fall over and faint, but no luck. I was gutted.
 

longers

Legendary Member
You're not scary enough Cathryn!

These goats are the result of a genetic experiment by wolves to breed an easy to catch dinner. Much less running about.
 

col

Legendary Member
My son showed me these on one of those jackass programmes,i couldnt stop laughing.
 

Arch

Married to Night Train
Location
Salford, UK
Brock said:
Whenever I'm bored I can always make myself guffaw with glee at fainting goats, but what kind of evolutionary f**k up can possibly account for such an obviously useless feature in an animal? Does it stop them running off cliffs when startled by a thunder clap or something?

I'd imagine the gene is a mutation, and probably recessive in the wild, but breeding by man has produced a strain of animals in which it's dominant. Once animals are domesticated by man, straight evolution stops playing such a large role in survival. It may be that the same gene is also linked to some positive trait which outweighs the negative (for example, the link between malaria resistance and suckle cell anaemia in humans - developing sickle cell is bad, but malaria resistance is good, and in a malarial area, convers a reproductive advantage)

On the other hand, possums 'play dead' by fainting, in order to put off a predator not keen on scavenged meat. Maybe it's a similar responce?
 
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Brock

Brock

Senior Member
Location
Kent
As ever a characteristically wise and helpful response from Arch, unlike the rest of you goons! Thanks Arch, I feel just a little bit cleverer whenever I read your posts.
Cow tipping does sound fun though...
 

TimO

Guru
Location
London
As ever, Wikipedia has something to say about them.

I did like this quote.

The fainting goat may also be raised as a pet or show animal as they can be friendly, intelligent, easy to keep, and amusing.

Emphasis mine!
 
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