# The Influence of Environmental Conditions and Husbandry Practices on Goat Welfare

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how environmental and farming practices affect goat welfare, emphasizing the need for humane and holistic care.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive review of goat welfare factors and compares assessment protocols for practical application.

## Key findings

- Heat stress and confined spaces negatively impact goat health and behavior.
- Positive human contact and enriched environments improve goat welfare.
- Validated assessment protocols are essential for monitoring and improving goat welfare.

## Abstract

Goat welfare is an important issue in any farming system. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the influence of environmental factors and husbandry practices on goat welfare, with a particular emphasis on physical, behavioural and emotional aspects. It includes a review of the up-to-date literature on the effects of environmental conditions including air temperature, air humidity, space, feeding systems, social relationships (mother–offspring, human–animal, animal–animal), zootechnical procedures (dehorning, castration, hoof trimming) and welfare assessment methods. It compares the AWIN, Anzuino, Muri and Leite protocols for assessing goat welfare and their application in the Five Domain Model. Goat welfare is strongly influenced by their environment, nutrition and socialisation: heat stress and confined space cause physiological disorders, decreased immunity and increased aggressive behaviour and a monotonous diet leads to frustration and reduced cognitive activity, whereas positive early contact with humans reduces anxiety and maintaining the mother–kid bond supports the social development of young goats. Significant improvements in welfare and stress reduction can be achieved by providing anaesthesia and painkillers where necessary to minimise pain and enriching the environment with items that support natural behaviour, such as platforms, brushes and items for cognitive tasks. In general, the keeper should take a holistic approach, combining environmental optimisation, humane husbandry practices and regular monitoring using validated assessment protocols to improve welfare. These measures are both an ethical obligation and a prerequisite for animal health and production efficiency.

Goat (Capra hircus) welfare is an important issue in any farming system. The aim of the study was a comprehensive analysis of the impact of environmental factors and farming practices on the welfare of goats, with particular attention to physical, behavioural, and emotional aspects. It includes a review of the up-to-date literature on the effects of environmental conditions including air temperature, air humidity, space, feeding systems, social relationships (mother–offspring, human–animal, animal–animal), zootechnical procedures (dehorning, castration, hoof trimming) and welfare assessment methods. It compares the AWIN, Anzuino, Muri and Leite protocols for assessing goat welfare and their application in the Five Domain Model. Goat welfare is strongly influenced by their environment, nutrition and socialisation: heat stress and confined space cause physiological disorders, decreased immunity and increased aggressive behaviour and a monotonous diet leads to frustration and reduced cognitive activity, whereas positive early contact with humans reduces anxiety and maintaining the mother–kid bond supports the social development of young goats. Furthermore, significant improvements in welfare and stress reduction can be achieved by providing anaesthesia and painkillers where necessary to minimise pain and enriching the environment with items that support natural behaviour, such as platforms, brushes and items for cognitive tasks. In general, the keeper should take a holistic approach, combining environmental optimisation, humane husbandry practices and regular monitoring using validated assessment protocols to improve welfare. These measures are both an ethical obligation and a prerequisite for animal health and production efficiency. Nevertheless, there is a need for further research focussing on the development of non-invasive assessment methods and innovative forms of environmental enrichment.