Goats are among the most globally important livestock species yet receive relatively little welfare research attention compared to cattle, pigs, and chickens.
Goat welfare is underserved by both regulation and research relative to the scale of the global goat population. Goats are often assumed to be hardier and less welfare-sensitive than cattle and sheep, but welfare science does not support this assumption. They are intelligent, social animals with complex needs that are routinely frustrated in confined production systems. The relative neglect of goat welfare in scientific literature, regulatory frameworks, and welfare certification means that advocacy work in this area has high potential impact relative to effort.