Excerpted from the International Fainting Goat Association
General Description: ….Young animals should show visible signs of increased muscle mass and this increased muscled mass becomes more apparent as the animal matures. Fainting goats should be stocky, with obvious width for height. Their body is full, wide, and deep with heavy muscling evident throughout.
In many areas of the county crossbreeding with other breeds probably plays a large roll in the different sizes. In the extreme western U. S. many smaller animals can be found while in the far southern U.S. many larger animals can be found. The southern U.S. is a meat producing area while the far western U.S. tends to be geared towards the pet industry.
The larger or
“improved meat” types may be only slightly taller than the original
types or on the larger end of their sizes. They also have good bone density
but because they are being selectively bred for the meat industry they
tend to have a larger muscle mass….Some breeders have successfully stayed
within the original heights and selectively bred for meat. These breeding
programs regularly produce animal’s well over 150 pounds with some reaching
200 pounds. These breeders have also used their knowledge of myotonia
to help produce these weights. The more myotonia shows the larger their
muscle mass will become. Think of it as a body builder consistently working
out. Every time a goat has an episode of myotonia it’s similar to a bodybuilding
workout. The greater the level of myotonia the more workouts the muscles
get.