Global goat milk and cheese production is growing rapidly, but welfare standards for dairy goats lag behind those for dairy cattle, with many welfare challenges poorly documented and inadequately addressed in production systems.
Dairy goats in intensive systems frequently experience housing conditions that prevent expression of their natural behavioural repertoire. Concrete slatted floors cause hoof problems and discomfort. Permanent indoor housing without climbing structures or environmental complexity causes chronic frustration. High-yielding animals experience metabolic drain similar to dairy cows. Disbudding without analgesia is a painful procedure inflicted on very young kids and represents a significant but often overlooked welfare concern. The growing consumer interest in goat dairy products has not yet translated into proportionate welfare improvements, and certification standards for goat welfare remain underdeveloped compared to those for bovines.