Goats are among the most cognitively sophisticated farmed animals. Research into their problem-solving abilities and social intelligence has welfare implications for dairy and meat production systems.
Goats kept in intensive dairy or meat systems are often deprived of social complexity, environmental exploration, and cognitive stimulation that their intelligence requires. Social isolation, barren housing, and early separation of kids from mothers are common welfare concerns. Research consistently shows that goats in enriched environments show lower cortisol levels, better health outcomes, and more positive affective states. Their intelligence makes them especially susceptible to boredom and frustration in impoverished conditions.