Goats are cognitively complex animals whose welfare requires enrichment beyond basic needs provision.
Goats in bare paddocks or pens without climbing structures, novel objects, or foraging complexity show reduced behavioral diversity and elevated indicators of frustration. Their intelligence means that environmental monotony causes genuine welfare compromise. Elevated platforms, brushes, varied substrate, and rotating novel objects substantially improve goat welfare at minimal cost. Their cognitive complexity makes enrichment a welfare necessity rather than luxury.