Goats are intelligent, social, and curious animals that require more than just the basics of food, water, and shelter to thrive. Shaped by their evolution in mountainous terrains, goats need stimulating environments that promote their natural behaviours. These opportunities greatly enhance their physical and mental wellbeing.
Dr Gosia Zobel
Companion Animals NZ’s Welfare Science Programme Coordinator, Dr Gosia Zobel, has done a lot of goat research. She dedicated most of her PhD with the Animal Welfare Programme at the University of British Columbia to goat behaviour.
Here, we ask her questions about the latest evidence-based information on giving goats a Good Life.
What makes goats so unique?
“Goats are unique in so many ways – they’re intelligent, inquisitive, social, love to climb and - probably the most surprising thing to many people – they are actually picky eaters! They also love to climb, and also hide. These behaviours are specific to the individual, and their personality. Their memory and communication skills are also impressive, with individuals responding to each other’s bleats after a year apart, and recognising their penmate’s bodies without seeing faces.
“Goats have richer emotional lives than many people realise. Like many other animals, every individual goat is different with their own quirks, wants and needs, but what really intrigues me is looking at ways to identify their emotional states.
“Measuring quality of life isn’t always simple. We may be able to assess their health and surrounds, but a goat can’t tell us how they are feeling. We tend to use indirect methods and a lot of my work has been around finding these indicators. One of my favourite studies is where we assessed goats’ ability to make decisions after they had experienced something positive (some yummy leaves) or negative (a warm shower – goats hate water!). Just like when people are asked to decide on their evening plans, goats in a positive state of mind were quicker to make a decision compared to when they were feeling more negative. This was an example of an indirect way of identifying emotional states in goats.”
Tell us about the history of goats...
“Goats' evolution in mountainous, varied terrain has profoundly influenced their behaviour and needs, even as companion animals today. Originally adapted to navigate rocky landscapes and forage widely, goats developed strong innate capabilities for climbing, browsing a diverse array of plants, and remembering the location of those resources.
“We know from observing feral and wild goats that they easily navigate large ranges and distances. I worked with a group of milking goats in the Swiss Alps that easily covered more than 4km each day! Furthermore, as herd animals, goats have also evolved complex social structures, forming bonds with selected individuals in their group.
“Their active, inquisitive nature requires ample mental and physical stimulation to keep them content. Therefore, as companion animals, goats thrive when given opportunities to climb, forage, and engage with their surroundings, as well as to socialise within stable groups. Recognising these innate needs is essential for providing goats with an enriched environment that mirrors the choices and activities they would naturally seek.”
What does this mean for their minimum care requirements, like shelter, food and healthcare?
“Caring for a pet goat requires more than just meeting health and diet needs. Their housing doesn’t need to be expensive, but it is an important part of ensuring they are leading a good life. Goats will seek shelter from the elements (anyone who keeps goats outdoors I am certain has faced the vocal fury of a rain-soaked goat!). And to promote individual behaviour preferences, guardians can add hiding spots, such as partitions, sheltered areas, or enclosed spaces under raised platforms. These spaces allow goats to control their exposure and find solitude when needed. Key takeaways are that they should have:
Raised areas – for both rest and play
Hard, dry surfaces – to promote hoof wear and reduce hoof rot
Hiding places – for weather protection and social ‘downtime’ to reduce stress
Exercise – while it might not be possible to provide a huge range, promoting movement and walking is important
Companions - goats are social and should not be housed alone.
“Goats also prefer a variety of plants to graze on. They like opportunities to have choice and accessing an array of plants to simulate the foraging activity which is great for keeping their active minds busy! One piece of research I was involved in showed that goats favoured feeders at eye or above head level over those at ground level. This may not be the case for every goat of course, so the name of the game for goats is always choice.
“Goats should have access to clean, fresh water at all times, and their diet needs to include good-quality forage, minerals (including copper – something that people that are grazing sheep often exclude), and sometimes a small amount of specialised goat feed to provide balanced nutrition. However, it important to be aware that such feed is usually formulated for milking or production animals, so most companion goats do not need it (in fact, neutered males or ‘whethers’ can develop life threatening urinary issues when fed these commercial diets).
“Goats need regular veterinary check-ups to monitor their overall health and prevent diseases. Vaccinations, including those for clostridial diseases, are essential, as well as deworming to control internal parasites. Rather than routinely drenching with a deworming product, fecal egg counts should be done, and goats treated as required. If possible, try to rotate different areas of pasture to reduce the worm burden that goats are exposed to. And, unless people have a large block of land, I advise avoiding co-grazing goats and sheep. The latter are great at harbouring parasites that goats are much more susceptible to.
“One of our studies showed that goats’ hooves grow over 5mm per month. This is not surprisning given their evolution and their typical exercise! Their hooves are made to wear down. So without access to rocks and kms of range each day, hoof trimming is necessary. Goats in my herd need trimming every 4–8 weeks to prevent overgrowth, and to nip any infections in the bud. The frequency depends on how rich feed is being fed, how wet the environment is, the amount of natural wearing the goat is able to do, and even genetics (my feral goat’s hooves need to be trimmed far less often than my Saanen and Toggenburgs’ hooves). “
“With proper care, goats can live long, healthy lives as loyal and engaging companion animals. ”
What about enrichment opportunities?
“Research I’ve been involved in has underscored the importance of a complex environment for goats – one that mimics the varied terrain they would experience in the wild. This may include enclosures with both open spaces and smaller, secluded sections. Adding logs, rocks, brushes, and obstacles encourages exploration and movement while providing diversity in their surroundings. Rotating or periodically rearranging enrichment items can also maintain their interest.
“In addition to this, goats are highly intelligent animals, capable of learning complex tasks and solving problems. Lack of stimulation can lead to boredom and produce negative behaviours like fence-jumping or destructive behaviours like chewing inedible objects in their environment.
“Some people have a misconception that it is normal for a goat to be tethered for the majority of their life - this is actually heartbreaking as it is certainly not a suitable life for a goat. Often this might stem from goats being brought into a family without appropriate knowledge of their care requirements - and because they’re seen as cute - and when any troublesome behaviour arises because they’re not provided for in the right way, they are then tethered. Permanent tethering does not promote many of the natural behaviours of goats and should be avoided.
“This is why it is so important to do your research before bringing goats (it is important this is plural as they need companions!) into your life. Providing a range of interactive activities that promote their natural behaviours, such as raised feeders filled with varied forages, or plastic barrels for climbing on, will keep them stimulated and content. Some goats enjoy manipulating objects, so experiment with safe items like rope pulls or puzzle feeders that release food as they interact with them.
“If we allow goats to perform their natural behaviours, we are getting closer to knowing that we’re providing a good quality of life.”
Thank you Dr Zobel!
