Dairy goat production has grown significantly as an alternative to cow dairy. Welfare standards for dairy goats address their distinctive behavioral needs and health challenges.
Dairy goat welfare shares many challenges with dairy cow systems including early kid separation, disbudding without pain relief, and intensive production demands on metabolic health. However, goats have some specific welfare needs related to their browsing behavioral ecology, strong social bonds, and exploratory inquisitiveness that require different management approaches. The growing demand for goat dairy products provides an opportunity to develop this sector with higher welfare standards from the outset rather than repeating the welfare compromises that became entrenched in the cow dairy industry. Consumer awareness of goat welfare issues is relatively low, making education an important advocacy tool.