Goats are the most widely consumed livestock species globally by population, yet their welfare receives far less research and regulatory attention than cattle, pigs or poultry. Understanding goat welfare needs is important.
Goat welfare suffers from regulatory neglect that is difficult to justify given the scale of global goat production and the evidence of goat sentience and welfare needs. Goats are curious, social, cognitively capable animals with specific behavioural and environmental requirements that most commercial systems fail to provide. Consumer demand for goat products has grown with artisan food culture, but welfare labelling is almost entirely absent. Regulatory catch-up, research investment and consumer education are all needed to close the goat welfare gap.