Farm Animal Welfare

Goat Respiratory Disease and Welfare

Respiratory disease in goats including mycoplasmosis and pasteurellosis causes significant welfare harm, particularly in intensive systems with poor ventilation.

Key Facts

Mycoplasma capricolum causes contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in severe outbreaks
Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida cause common bacterial respiratory disease
Kids under 3 months are most susceptible to fatal respiratory disease
Housing overcrowding and poor ventilation are primary risk factors for disease spread
Vaccination programmes reduce incidence in high-risk intensive dairy goat systems

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease in goats causes significant suffering through breathing difficulty, fever and debilitation. Prevention through appropriate housing design, stocking density and vaccination reduces welfare burden. Kids require particular attention as the most vulnerable age group.

What You Can Do

Support goat farms with documented ventilation standards and respiratory disease monitoring
Advocate for veterinary training in goat-specific respiratory disease assessment
Choose certified goat dairy products with documented health management standards