Dairy goat farming supplies a growing global market for goat milk, cheese and yoghurt, yet goat welfare receives far less research attention and regulatory scrutiny than dairy cattle. Understanding goat needs is essential for improving their lives on farm.
Dairy goat welfare suffers from a regulatory gap — many welfare protections that apply to dairy cattle have not been extended to goats. Disbudding without analgesia, chronic confinement and the routine killing of male kids are areas where the industry falls short of reasonable welfare standards. Consumer demand for goat dairy products is growing, but welfare labelling is rare, leaving consumers unable to make informed choices. Welfare-conscious purchasing, producer engagement and regulatory advocacy are all needed to improve conditions for the estimated 230 million dairy goats worldwide.