Welfare issues in goat farming and management
Résumé
Goats are raised in a wide range of production systems all around the world. Whatever the system, different aspects of the farming management can affect the welfare of goats, namely management of the relationships with social peers and humans, kids’ management, outdoor access, and milking, reproduction and genetics management. In this chapter, each of these management aspects is discussed with regard to the risks of impairing the welfare of goats and the strategies to mitigate their stress by better fitting the farming management to the behavioural and physiological needs of goats. In addition to stress mitigation, this chapter also highlights the possibility throughout management practices to elicit positive emotional experiences to induce positive welfare in goats. In tandem, the positive effects of facilitating positive welfare of goats on the quality of life at work for the farmer are reported, illustrating the interrelationships between human wellbeing and animal welfare. Recent scientific knowledge in behavioural and social needs of goats and their cognitive abilities should be better taken into account to develop good practice guidelines and specific regulations to ensure more welfare-friendly goat farming systems.