Goat and sheep milk dairy production has welfare dimensions that deserve attention alongside its growth as an alternative to cow dairy.
As cow dairy alternatives, goat and sheep milk products are sometimes assumed to be higher welfare, but the systemic welfare issues of dairy production — maternal separation, male animal disposal, and reproductive cycling — apply equally to small ruminant dairy. Consumers interested in higher welfare dairy should seek specific welfare information about the production system rather than assuming goat or sheep milk is automatically better. The growth of small artisanal goat dairy with transparent welfare practices represents genuine higher welfare dairy.