Fainting goats = easy meal for wild animals?

[Narmer]

I was looking at DrPizza's website (http://www.slatebrookfarm.com/) and it says

"The degree of myotonia can range from a mere stiffening of the legs to a complete stiffening of the body, where if the goat is off balance it will fall over. This stiffening actually builds muscle. This high muscle mass along with their smaller bones yields a higher meat to bone ratio which make this breed desirable to the meat goat breeder."

Well, if these animals breed fast in the wild, then they must be a good source of protein for the carnivores milling about. I can't imagine anything easier than an animal that falls to the ground for 10-15 seconds so you can eat it. Where are these animals naturally found?

 

[Matthiasa]

They are naturally found... nowhere, most likely anyways.

 

[Magusigne]

I am a neuroscientist so I've had alot of exposure to these types of disease.

These goats were bred extensively by farmers after they discovered this trait. They would take a fainting goat and place them in there herd of Cows or sheep and if a wolf would come and try to grab one of them... We'll...you know who went first.. and a goat is alot cheaper than a Cow.

 

[Gothgar]

I am a neuroscientist so I've had alot of exposure to these types of disease.

These goats were bred extensively by farmers after they discovered this trait. They would take a fainting goat and place them in there herd of Cows or sheep and if a wolf would come and try to grab one of them... We'll...you know who went first.. and a goat is alot cheaper than a Cow.

that is fucking :awe:

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

This book has all the answers you need

http://www.imponderables.com/when_did_poodles.php

 

[RoloMather]

Read up on narcolepsy related cataplexy.

 

[DrPizza]

I am a neuroscientist so I've had alot of exposure to these types of disease.

These goats were bred extensively by farmers after they discovered this trait. They would take a fainting goat and place them in there herd of Cows or sheep and if a wolf would come and try to grab one of them... We'll...you know who went first.. and a goat is alot cheaper than a Cow.

That story has been repeated a lot, but there's never been any evidence to back it up. Regarding the price of a goat vs. a cow - from the moment the baby goats hit the ground, the females are worth $350 to $400. If I wanted to raise a steer from about 1 week of age, depending on the breed, I could pick one up for $10 or $20. The male fainting goats cost a little less, except for exceptional males. I just got back from a 1426 mile trip yesterday to go pick up one goat.

And no, you won't find most goats in the wild. Mountain goats are "goat" in name only & aren't closely related to domesticated goats. Ditto with cows - you won't find cows in the wild. Most of the breeders we know have guard animals to protect their goats. We have llamas & a great pyrenees to guard our goats. The breeder I went to yesterday has 4 great pyrenees & 2 great pyrenees/karakachan mixes. They occasionally find coyote carcasses that their dogs have torn apart.

So, no. Generally, the fainting goat breeders we know of are pretty serious about protecting their herds. I've heard of other people having other types of herds nearly wiped out by predators. The worst predator of them all: packs of stray dogs.

 

[KK]

That story has been repeated a lot, but there's never been any evidence to back it up. Regarding the price of a goat vs. a cow - from the moment the baby goats hit the ground, the females are worth $350 to $400. If I wanted to raise a steer from about 1 week of age, depending on the breed, I could pick one up for $10 or $20.

Not saying the story is true as I have no clue, but just because you put a 350-400 price tag on a baby, doesn't mean that they are worth that amount to others.

 

[iamme]

http://www.scienceontv.com/2008/10/16/mythbusters-viral-hour-part-ii-fainting-goats/

 

[Pocatello]

If you're being chased by a grizzly bear, would you run for your life, or would you pretend you're dead by lying still? It probably wouldn't matter a whole lot . But a lot of predators chase down their preys because the preys are running.

 

[AreaCode707]

Not saying the story is true as I have no clue, but just because you put a 350-400 price tag on a baby, doesn't mean that they are worth that amount to others.

Goat prices vary widely depending on what you want to buy:

- Pet wether (castrated male): $50
- Milking doe with proven breeding ability and good milk: $350
- Show doe with great confirmation: $400
- Meat goat baby: $50-80
- Excellent buck with proven offspring: $350
Etc.

His estimate is quite accurate for the breed and quality of goats that he produces. We bought our 6 month old mini-mancha does for about $200 a piece, with good lineage, but neither had been bred before.

 

[Narmer]

If you're being chased by a grizzly bear, would you run for your life, or would you pretend you're dead by lying still? It probably wouldn't matter a whole lot . But a lot of predators chase down their preys because the preys are running.

I would run. You think that bear is stupid enough to not know that you just fell? He may take a bite out of you to see if you're still good.

 

[lxskllr]

If you're being chased by a grizzly bear, would you run for your life, or would you pretend you're dead by lying still? It probably wouldn't matter a whole lot . But a lot of predators chase down their preys because the preys are running.

There's different techniques for different bears. For one bear it's better to look big and loud, for another bear it's better to lay down and play dead. I don't remember which bear is which though :^O

 

[Crono]

There's different techniques for different bears. For one bear it's better to look big and loud, for another bear it's better to lay down and play dead. I don't remember which bear is which though :^O

The all-around best approach is to walk right up to the bear and slap him (or her) in the face. It will be so stunned that it will just walk away, leaving you unscathed.

That, or it will maul you, shredding you to ribbons of flesh.

But it's worth a try next time you are confronted by a bear.

 

[Pocatello]

I would run. You think that bear is stupid enough to know that you just fell? He may take a bite out of you to see if you're still good.

If you can outrun a bear, you're pretty fast, and at a long distance You don't usually see a bear until it's right on top you. A surprised grizzly bear is not a pleasant site, they can sprint to 30 MPH.

 

[KK]

Goat prices vary widely depending on what you want to buy:

- Pet wether (castrated male): $50
- Milking doe with proven breeding ability and good milk: $350
- Show doe with great confirmation: $400
- Meat goat baby: $50-80
- Excellent buck with proven offspring: $350
Etc.

His estimate is quite accurate for the breed and quality of goats that he produces. We bought our 6 month old mini-mancha does for about $200 a piece, with good lineage, but neither had been bred before.

Yes, but the story the one poster was talking about, and I don't know if it's true once again, was probably from some time back before the popularization of raising goats for show. Hence the reason for sacrificing a goat to keep the cattle safe.

 

[rockyct]

Regarding the price of a goat vs. a cow - from the moment the baby goats hit the ground, the females are worth $350 to $400.

My aunt and uncle raise alpacas with the intention of it being a good investment. The average female was worth $20,000 or more, but the males were worth only $500. The apparent demand was because of their fiber which I guess is a little better than wool in clothing. Of course, considering they only got $40 a pound or less (I think) for the wool and each animal only gives a few pounds (if that) of fiber a year, most people can see a problem here. Anyway, it looks like this is a better investment in terms of breeding.

 

[DrPizza]

Not saying the story is true as I have no clue, but just because you put a 350-400 price tag on a baby, doesn't mean that they are worth that amount to others.

One of the people on our waiting list has been on our waiting list for 2 years. Everyone else has only been on the waiting list for 1 year. If you look on our website, you'll see that we instituted a 2 goat limit for people on the waiting list to give others a chance. My wife spent about 2-3 straight hours on the phone with people today who are interested in purchasing the goats. Almost all of our goats are show quality - the buck we bred most last fall was the grand champion junior buck & reserve grand champion buck (beating out most of the older bucks as well) at the only show we've taken him to. We're taking our new buck to another show in 2 weeks & are crossing our fingers for a grand champion.

So, ummm, yeah, they're worth that much to others.

re: alpacas - the market has become saturated. Most females aren't worth anywhere near 20k these days. I regularly see females (as well as males) in the $400 range. However, show quality, with pedigrees etc. can fetch top dollar. I've seen llamas and alpacas in the 40-50k range.

 

[ebaycj]

The all-around best approach is to walk right up to the bear and slap him (or her) in the face. It will be so stunned that it will just walk away, leaving you unscathed.

That, or it will maul you, shredding you to ribbons of flesh.

But it's worth a try next time you are confronted by a bear.

If you can get close enough without being mauled, the most effective way to deal with a bear is a full-force punch to the throat.

 

[DrPizza]

If you can get close enough without being mauled, the most effective way to deal with a bear is a full-force punch to the throat.

Depends on the type of bear. Grizzly bear? You're going to die. Black bear? They generally will leave you alone. I've had a huge black bear 6 feet from me, staring at me as if wondering "where the hell did you come from?" I've had a black bear run by me with her cub, only a couple feet away. I've been within 50 feet of black bears at least a dozen times with them aware of me. They generally just take off & go the other way.

 

[rasczak]

Depends on the type of bear. Grizzly bear? You're going to die. Black bear? They generally will leave you alone. I've had a huge black bear 6 feet from me, staring at me as if wondering "where the hell did you come from?" I've had a black bear run by me with her cub, only a couple feet away. I've been within 50 feet of black bears at least a dozen times with them aware of me. They generally just take off & go the other way.

you're supposed to try talking it out first before fighting.

 

[Matthiasa]

If you can get close enough without being mauled, the most effective way to deal with a bear is a full-force punch to the throat.

I would have thought that hitting there nose or eyes would be more effective, as they know if those get damaged they die.

 

[Q]

That story has been repeated a lot, but there's never been any evidence to back it up. Regarding the price of a goat vs. a cow - from the moment the baby goats hit the ground, the females are worth $350 to $400. If I wanted to raise a steer from about 1 week of age, depending on the breed, I could pick one up for $10 or $20. The male fainting goats cost a little less, except for exceptional males. I just got back from a 1426 mile trip yesterday to go pick up one goat.

And no, you won't find most goats in the wild. Mountain goats are "goat" in name only & aren't closely related to domesticated goats. Ditto with cows - you won't find cows in the wild. Most of the breeders we know have guard animals to protect their goats. We have llamas & a great pyrenees to guard our goats. The breeder I went to yesterday has 4 great pyrenees & 2 great pyrenees/karakachan mixes. They occasionally find coyote carcasses that their dogs have torn apart.

So, no. Generally, the fainting goat breeders we know of are pretty serious about protecting their herds. I've heard of other people having other types of herds nearly wiped out by predators. The worst predator of them all: packs of stray dogs.

 

[Rubycon]

I'd carry this around just in case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO2OocOVcJo

Don't mess with bears unless you have to.

 

[AreaCode707]

Yes, but the story the one poster was talking about, and I don't know if it's true once again, was probably from some time back before the popularization of raising goats for show. Hence the reason for sacrificing a goat to keep the cattle safe.

Oh, I thought you were questioning DrPizza's prices on his goats.