Goats are highly intelligent and social animals whose welfare needs are often overlooked in both small-scale and commercial production settings.
Goats occupy an unusual position in livestock welfare — small enough to be kept as backyard animals with limited regulation, yet farmed commercially in large numbers. Their intelligence means boredom and social isolation cause genuine psychological suffering. Their susceptibility to parasites creates chronic welfare problems requiring intensive management. The dairy goat sector has grown substantially but welfare standards have not kept pace with expansion. Goats raised for meat often receive even less welfare attention than dairy goats.