Myotonic Goats

Myotonic Goats. Capra hircus. , General Information , Myotonic Goats have all sorts of coat colors, but the most common is black and white because it was preferred by early breeders. Goats have rectangular pupils, which gives them better peripheral vision for avoiding predators. This domestic goat species is commonly kept by farmers to use for meat. They are a popular breed because they are easy to contain, they have good meat qualities, and they reproduce quickly., Diet , Myotonic Goats are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. They are known to eat grasses, shrubs, and weeds. Farmers also feed their goats a specially formulated pellet food to add vitamins and minerals to their diet., Range and Habitat , Myotonic Goats can be found on farms around the globe. The species was domesticated in the 1880s. They were reportedly brought to Tennessee from Nova Scotia by farm laborer, John Tinsley. Myotonic Goats ware not found in the wild., Conservation Status , Not Evaluated , Myotonic Goats are a domestic species, which means they are not listed by the IUCN. However, they are listed as threatened by the Livestock Conservancy. This species is often used for crossbreeding, and the overuse of purebreds can threaten this important species' survival., Wild Fact! , Myotonic Goats are named after a skeletal condition that affects the entire species, called yotonia Congenita!