Dairy goat production is growing worldwide. Goat welfare shares many concerns with dairy cattle but requires species-specific attention to their unique behavioral needs.
Dairy goat welfare challenges are in some ways more acute than dairy cattle because of goats' exceptional intelligence and social complexity. They form strong individual bonds, have pronounced hierarchical social structures, and are highly motivated to explore and manipulate their environment. Intensive systems that deny environmental complexity and social expression cause chronic frustration and stereotypic behavior. Kid separation practices cause severe distress in both mother and offspring. Painful disbudding without analgesia remains common despite evidence of significant pain. Welfare-centered dairy goat systems provide browse access, appropriate social groups, enriched housing, and pain management for all necessary procedures.