Dairy goats are one of the fastest-growing farmed animal sectors globally, with welfare standards that lag behind those for dairy cattle in many countries.
Goats have specific welfare needs including access to browse, climbing structures, and complex social groups. Intensive housing in barren pens causes frustration and stereotype behaviour. Kid disbudding is acutely painful and frequently performed without anaesthesia. The rapid growth of the goat dairy sector means welfare standards need to develop urgently to keep pace with intensification. Consumers have little visibility of goat farming conditions compared to dairy cattle.