***WELCOME TO AFGO*** A REGISTRY PRESERVING THE HISTORICALLY CORRECT FAINTING GOATS
WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN FAINTING GOAT ORGANIZATION (REGISTRY)
KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE WITH ONE CONSISTENT LOOK
Welcome to the American Fainting Goat Organization (Registry). We are also referred to as “AFGO”. We are a family owned and operated Fainting Goat Registry dedicated to preserving and enhancing the historically correct Fainting goat as they were in the beginning. We even kept their name the same! Our goal is to register only goats that are historically correct !!! Our goal is to have a single common look that is consistent throughout the breed. The push today is for bigger meatier goats that mature faster. As breeders actively breed to “improve” their herds to follow this trend; the historically correct Fainting goats are being pushed right out of the gene pool. They could find themselves back on the endangered list if more breeders don’t breed for the historically correct goats.
Several years ago the Fainting goats were listed on the endangered/critical list by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy “ALBC”. The breed has since been gaining attention and the numbers have increased. Because of this, the breed has now been removed from the endangered list and placed on the recovering list. I think it is important for us to realize why the numbers have incresed. Many goats are currently being registered that do not match the breed standard and that are not histroically correct.These goats were all included in the numbers that the ALBC uses. This is why AFGO feels that the numbers are not totally correct and has some concern still about the breed becoming endangered again. Again the push today is for bigger, meatier goats that mature faster. While this may help to strengthen other breeds, we must realize that overuse of crossbreeding would once again threaten the survival of the historically correct Fainting goat.
Many have asked us ”how we are different than the other registries?” Well it is really very simple. Our primary focus is and always has been on the historically correct Fainting goat breed. At AFGO we feel that without a registry dedicated soley to these goats they will be lost. At AFGO we feel that it is time to move the breed into a direction that will encourage more historically correct bred goats. AFGO has initiated a breed standard to follow. All breeds must have a breed standard to inform breeders, judges, and others what the breed should look like. Picture a poodle dog; you can tell it is a poodle by looking at it. It has one consistent look no matter what size poodle you are looking at.This is why the standard must be precise. It must include traits that will define the breed. It must be followed. Any deviation will harm the breed. This sadly is happening already as several goats have been registered that don’t meet the standard/description, however, AFGO has not registered them. A breed standard is different than a breed description. A standard not only will describe the looks and traits of the animal but it will also define characteristics that are not acceptable in the breed. AFGO is the first registry to recognize this breed as a formal breed. Being a formal breed will help ensure the breed remains historically correct. Even though AFGO considerers the Fainting goat breed to be a formal breed we have allowed for the varities found due to the fact of beginning as a land-race breed. All goats must match the breed standard in order to be registered! We insist on one consistant look. We will strive to ensure that the Fainting goat breed remains strong. We will try to keep the breed as close to it’s orginal traits,characteristics,and size as possible. For more information about the traits and characteristics you can refer to our breed standard.
While AFGO is leading the way;other registeries are also seeing the same problems and are starting to close the herd books. The hope here is to start seeing a more consistent look over the years. The problem is that at this point it may almost too little too late with the amount of goats that have alaready been registered that are not historically correct. IF this can be achieved it will take many years to accomplish. AFGO has already achieved this since from the beggining we have only registered one consistent look . Even if others are able to get a consistent look, it may not be the look of the original historically correct Fainting goats. This is because in order to get historically correct goats you must start and breed only historically correct goats.You can not have others that don’t match the standard include in your gene pool. AFGO BELIEVES IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN AN OPEN HERD BOOK. THERE ARE STILL MANY GOATS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN REGISTERED THAT MEET THE BREED STANDARD. AFGO BELIEVES THAT IF ONLY THE CORRECT GOATS ARE REGISTERED FROM THE START, THAN AN OPEN HERD BOOK WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM.
AFGO is built on Christian beliefs and values. We are proud of this fact and we do not try to hide it.
If you continue to read the article below about the history of the Fainting goats, I believe it will help you understand where AFGO’s dedication is. It may even point out some new facts and allow you to see the Fainting goat in a different light.
The truth may make some people upset ,but they can’t deny it, they can only accept it.
The History of the Fainting Goat by Debbie Cassidy
The history of Fainting Goat breed is at times rather elusive. Documentation is sketchy at best. Most will agree, however, that it dates back to the early 1880′s. The old story tellers believe that a man named John Tinsley once traveled from place to place. He was believed to have been from Nova Scotia, Canada, but no one knows for sure. He was just a farm worker according to the story. He arrived at a farm in central Tennessee with his four very unusual goats. He had one buck and three does. These goats often got stiff and would fall down. No one knows where he got these unusual goats from. He stayed in the area for about a year. It is believed that he married a local lady while he was there. Before leaving the area, Tinsley sold his unusual goats. No one knows where he went after he left the area.
Dr. Mayberry began to breed the goats and realized that when they were bred, their babies would get stiff and fall down as well. This lead him to believe he had discovered a new breed. According to the December 25, 1929 Naples Record, this strange phenomenon is seen in all of the offspring of the pure-bred goats without exception. This breed soon became known as the Tennessee Fainting Goat. The Tennessee Fainting goat gradually became well known in the Marshall County area ,as well as, Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Coffee Counties. They began to increase in their numbers. People started referring to them as; stiff, nervous, and fainting goats. They were never called Myotonic goats until the mid-1900.
This new found breed (the Fainting goat) was prized for their calm disposition. They were treasured for being less apt to climb like most other breeds making them easier to contain. They discovered they were easy kidders and not necessarily just a seasonal breeder. Documentation states that the original goats were a smaller goat weighing from 50-170 pounds. They stood anywhere from 17-25 inches at the withers. Documentation also shows that they had short and long hair and came in many different colors and patterns.
All the Fainting goats here today are believed to have evolved from the four original goats. They increased in numbers over time. Sometimes during the 1950′s (some suggest the 1930′s) some of the goats were taken to the hill country in Texas. Here they were further selected for their meat qualities and selective breeding as a meat goat began. These goats are what some breeders refer to as the Texas” line”. The Texas line is bigger than the Tennessee” line”.
In 1980′s (one hundred years after arriving to the United Sates) the breed is once again rediscovered. At this point the breed is considered a rare breed that has almost become extinct. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy stepped in and placed in on the endangered list. Over the years, the numbers of goats have increased enough to be placed on the recovering list. Just a note to say that the increase in these numbers reflected all goats that were registered. Remember that many of these goats included did not match the standard for the Fainting goats. The Fainting goat’s numbers would not have been as high if all goats counted were only those that are historically correct. AFGO believes that we are still not out of the woods as of yet. A word of warning should also be noted that if the breeders choose to crossbred, the survival of these goats will once again be threatened.
With the push to protect and preserve the breed, the breeders have basically taken either one or two different paths. One group of breeders have chosen to breed for the bigger Myotonic goats, while the others have chosen to breed for the smaller Fainting goats.
The myotonic group is breeding for the bigger, meatier goats for commercial purposes. They refer to their goats as the Myotonic goats. They still consider them to be a landrace breed. They also register and track the percentage goats. The Myotonics have a different look than the original Fainting goats. They are bigger in height and carry more muscling. Many have lost the characteristics of the dished head or buggy eyes. Sometimes they are even seen with a Roman style nose. Even their degree of myotonia is commonly less. These goats have a different ear set that is longer, wider, and sometimes will lay against the head. (a very bad characteristic for the Fainting goat breed) While the Myotonic goats are a very nice breed of goat they should not be confused with the original Fainting goats. When selective breeding takes place, sometimes you will lose the “look”. This is what has happened to the Myotonic goats. They now have their own “look”. AFGO considers them a differnt breed. The market is growing for the meat goat as more and more people from different ethnic backgrounds choose goat meat as their main choice of meat. The Myotonic goats can help fulfill this need where the smaller Fainting goat is unable to do so. The Fainting goats remember are a slow maturing goat and small in size.
At this point we must consider the Myotonic and the Fainting goat as two different breeds. A breed is when two animals of the same type pass on predictable traits to their offspring. Traits such as the facial profile, ear sets, and buggy eyes. Both the Fainting goat breed and the Myotonic breed both pass on certain traits to their offspring. The traits are, however, very different between the two breeds. To be considered a breed you should only have one consistent look. AFGO only registers goats with that “look”.
The breeders of the Fainting goats are striving to keep their breed as close to the” look” and characteristics of the old original Fainting goats as possible. This is where AFGO comes in. AFGO realized that there were basically now two different breeds being promoted (the Myotonic and the Fainting goats). It was noticed that the Fainting goats were becoming over looked as the breeders continued to seek out goats with a more muscular appearance. The Fainting goats may soon find themselves out of gene pool altogether.
In 2011 AFGO felt that there was a big enough need to preserve the smaller more original breed of goat. We consider the Fainting goat breed to be a formal breed and no longer a landrace. We choose to continue to call them the Fainting goats since that was what the first original goats were called. The name is part of their history. We refer to these first original goats as historically correct.
AFGO chose to use the old description/standard that has been around and accepted for years. This standard closely describes the” look” of the old historically correct goats and was written by people that both loved and had knowledge of this breed. Only goats that match this standard will be registered at AFGO. The new Myotonic goat breed does not match this description/standard. They are too big. They have different facial profiles and different ear sets. Maybe soon will they will get their own standard. It is impossible to be an accepted breed without a standard that the breed can own up to.
AFGO believes that a “line” is nothing more than a group of bloodlines! All bloodlines are acceptable as long as the goat being registered matches our description. All others will not be considered a Fainting goat. AFGO also believes that no goat is 100%. We try to maintain them as pure as possible. We still allow for the found goats because some of these goats are often from some of the oldest and purest herds around. These goats are part of history too and will help preserve the breed. Their owners just didnt register them.
I hope you will consider registering your goats with us and helping to preserve this fantastic breed and have some fun while doing it.
FAINTING GOAT NEWS IS A MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE FAINTING GOAT BREED. PUBLISHED QUARTERLY.
Fainting Goat Facts is a great place for more information about the Fainting goat breed!
http://faintinggoathealth.webs.com/ FAINTING GOAT HEALTH CARE. Find out more about dieseases and correct dosages for the Fainting goats. There are many sites with good information but there are some that give the wrong dosages for the Fainting goats since they are not a large breed. Know whats the best for your goats!
PROUD MEMBERS OF:
THE TENNESSEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
THE SOCIETY’S PURPOSE IS TO “PROMOTE INTEREST IN AND PRESERVATION OF ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF TENNESSEE”
THE AMERCIAN LIVESTOCK BREEDS CONSERVANCY 
WORKING TO PROTECT NEARLY 200 BREEDS OF LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY FROM EXTINCTION!
Staying in touch from the original home of the Tennessee Fainting Goats!
click here to visit the Tribune
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There are several ways in which to contact AFGO.
email: <http://www.privatedaddy.com/?q=FHBcekQHChogLTV7Mk8kK2BFOGdseQ-3D-3D_19>
call us @ 936-201-0639
join us online at facebook. Search for AFGO open chat!
join us online at our yahoo group. Search for AFGO(american fainting goat organization)
Drop us a line:
AMERICAN FAINTING GOAT ORGANIZATION
780 Cassidy Dr.
Hemphill Tx, 75948
This site is copywritten. Nothng may be reproduced or copied without the written permission of the American Fainting Goat Organization. Photos sent in of goats for registration become the property of the American Fainting Goat Organization. All photos belonging to AFGO unauthorized for use will be in violation of the Texas copywrite laws.
Proverbs 27:23
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give carefull attention to your herds.