Dairy goat farming involves separating kids from mothers shortly after birth, causing distress for both animals that welfare-focused farms are beginning to address.
Kid separation in goat dairy causes acute distress that parallels the welfare concerns in dairy cattle. Does vocalize persistently for missing kids, show elevated stress hormones, and search their environment. Kids separated early miss critical social learning and bonding experiences. Extended dam-rearing systems that allow kids to nurse while the doe is also milked represent a welfare improvement but are more management-intensive.