Goats are highly adaptable animals with complex social and behavioral needs that are often underestimated in both commercial and smallholder production systems.
Goats are often thought of as hardy and low-maintenance, but this misperception leads to welfare neglect. Their social nature means solitary housing causes chronic stress measurable in cortisol levels. Many dairy goat operations disbud kids without adequate pain management, a practice condemned by veterinary bodies. Appropriate welfare standards include group housing, environmental enrichment, shelter from wet weather, and proper pain management for all procedures. High-welfare goat production is achievable and increasingly demanded by ethical consumers.