Dairy goat production is expanding globally as demand for goat milk and cheese grows. Understanding the welfare needs of goats in dairy systems is essential for improving outcomes in this rapidly growing sector.
Dairy goat welfare receives less research attention than cattle or sheep, but shares many of the same challenges: disbudding without adequate pain relief, inadequate housing for agile and curious animals, and subclinical disease that reduces quality of life without obvious clinical signs. Goats are escape artists and highly motivated to climb and explore; barren, flat housing causes boredom and increases aggression at feed barriers. Barberpole worm (Haemonchus contortus) resistance to anthelmintics is a growing problem, making welfare-positive parasite management increasingly challenging. Investment in goat-specific housing design, pain management protocols, and health monitoring capacity is needed to raise welfare standards in this growing sector.