Hoof problems are a leading welfare issue in farmed goats, causing chronic pain and reduced productivity. Regular hoof trimming and prompt treatment significantly improve outcomes.
Goat hoof welfare is frequently neglected, with lameness rates in some herds exceeding 20%. Lame goats experience chronic pain evidenced by reduced activity, abnormal posture, and reluctance to walk. Most goat lameness is preventable through regular hoof trimming, maintaining dry resting areas, and prompt treatment of early infectious disease. The welfare case for routine hoof care is strong — untreated lameness is progressive, increasingly painful, and harder to resolve. Hoof trimming training for goat farmers and readily available treatment protocols significantly improve welfare outcomes across commercial and smallholder goat systems.