Dairy goats provide milk in many parts of the world, but their welfare needs — including kid rearing, social housing, and health management — are often overlooked in small and commercial production.
Dairy goat welfare shares many challenges with dairy cattle — early kid separation, mastitis, and nutritional management — but receives far less regulatory and research attention. Kid separation causes visible and audible distress in both mothers and offspring. Mastitis causes pain and reduced milk production. Providing social housing, appropriate terrain and enrichment, accessible veterinary care, and extended kid contact where feasible significantly improves welfare outcomes for dairy goats.