Foot rot and other hoof conditions cause significant chronic pain in goats and are among the most prevalent welfare problems in goat farming.
Goats with foot rot experience severe pain from bacterial infection destroying foot tissue, causing lameness and inability to graze normally. Untreated foot rot causes progressive tissue destruction extending to bones and joints. Lame goats that cannot compete effectively for food suffer secondary nutritional deficits. Poor hoof trimming causing overcorrection can cause acute pain and create new foot problems. The welfare burden of foot disease in extensively managed goat herds is significant and largely preventable with appropriate flock management and monitoring.