Tennessee fainting Goats appeared in Tennessee in the late 1800s. Actually, there are two theories, one stating, that the species arrived in Tennessee from Nova Scotia, and the other one supporting the recessive gene mutation theory. These goats grow stiff and collapse to the ground when excited or frightened, which earned them the name. Fainting Goats come in black-and-white or other colors, and they are good at jumping and climbing. They are also highly milk-productive.