Dairy goat farming is expanding rapidly in many countries, with intensive indoor systems raising welfare concerns similar to but distinct from those in dairy cow production.
Dairy goat welfare in intensive systems mirrors problems in dairy cattle production while reflecting the specific needs of goats as a species. Goats are browsers adapted to varied, scrubby terrain and are poorly suited to bare concrete housing. They are naturally more active climbers than cattle and experience frustration of exploration and climbing behaviours in restricted environments. Male kids without economic value are frequently killed at or soon after birth; developing markets for dairy-bred kid meat addresses both economic and welfare concerns by valuing animals that would otherwise be killed immediately.