Goats are highly inquisitive, social, and agile animals whose welfare in intensive farming systems is often compromised by restricted movement, inadequate social structures, and barren environments.
Goat welfare is compromised in intensive systems by the mismatch between their behavioral repertoire and available opportunities. Goats are naturally mobile, exploratory climbers with strong social bonds — intensive systems that restrict movement, provide barren environments, and disrupt social groups violate multiple behavioral needs simultaneously. Disbudding without adequate pain relief — removing horn buds with hot iron or caustic paste — causes documented acute pain and distress in kid goats and represents a significant routine welfare harm. The curious, interactive nature of goats means they may be particularly affected by barren environments relative to less inquisitive species. Recognition of goat cognitive complexity and emotional life parallels what has transformed pig welfare advocacy, with similar implications for evaluating intensive goat production systems.