Goat farming for milk, meat, and fiber is widespread globally, particularly in developing countries. Despite their intelligence and social complexity, welfare standards for farmed goats are poorly developed compared to cattle and pigs.
Goat welfare in commercial production receives less attention than dairy cattle or pigs, yet many of the same welfare challenges apply. Disbudding without anesthesia - removing the horn buds of young kids with a hot iron - causes acute pain that is frequently undermedicated. Intensive housing denies goats their natural browsing and climbing behavior - in the wild and in extensive systems, goats are adept climbers that spend much of their day selecting diverse plant material. Early maternal separation causes distress to both mother and kid. Dairy goats bred for high milk production face comparable reproductive welfare challenges to dairy cows - continuous pregnancy and lactation cycles that tax the body over time.