Goats are among the most widely farmed animals in the world, yet receive relatively little welfare attention despite facing significant challenges in intensive production systems regarding social needs, disbudding, and kidding management.
Goat welfare receives far less scientific and advocacy attention than cattle, pigs, or poultry, despite the scale of goat farming globally. This is partly geographic — goat production is concentrated in low and middle-income countries where welfare regulations are minimal — and partly cultural, as goats are perceived as resilient and low-maintenance. Disbudding without pain relief is a routine procedure causing acute suffering that could be eliminated with appropriate analgesic protocols. Kid-at-foot dairy systems represent a welfare improvement parallel to those emerging in cattle dairy. Enrichment and social housing are low-cost interventions with measurable welfare benefits.