Dairy goat production has grown significantly with rising demand for goat milk and cheese, but welfare standards lag behind the dairy cattle sector.
Dairy goat welfare has received less regulatory and scientific attention than cattle dairy, despite comparable welfare concerns. Goats are social, curious, and behaviorally complex animals whose intensive confinement limits natural behavior significantly. Disbudding without pain relief is common and causes acute pain. Kid separation from does mirrors the cattle dairy welfare problem. The growth of artisan and premium goat dairy markets presents an opportunity to develop and promote higher welfare standards, but consumer awareness of goat welfare is low compared to cattle.