Dairy and meat goats are farmed worldwide, but goat welfare often receives less attention than cattle or pigs. Good management practices significantly improve goat health and quality of life.
Goat welfare is compromised by management systems designed for sheep or cattle rather than goat-specific needs. Goats require overhead shelter from rain more than most ruminants, and wet conditions rapidly compromise health. Internal parasites are a major welfare issue — targeted selective treatment strategies reduce suffering while limiting anthelmintic resistance. Pain relief for disbudding, castration, and kidding complications is essential but underused in many production systems.