Strong friendships
Goats are social animals who live in groups. Within those groups, they form strong bonds and seek closeness with animals they trust.
About animal species
Goats are social, curious, and full of character.
Goats naturally live in groups, form strong friendships, and communicate with each other through bleating. They are curious, excellent climbers and need space to move, play, and explore.
About goats.
Communication
Goats communicate through sound, posture, and behaviour. They let one another know where they are, what they are experiencing, and when they want contact.
Curious climbers
Goats are curious and excellent climbers. They want to move, play, explore, and view their surroundings from different heights.
The stark contrast.
What they need
Goats want to live in groups, form strong bonds, communicate, climb, play, and move freely. They need space to be curious and express their natural behaviour.
In animal agriculture
In dairy goat farming, goats are artificially inseminated for milk production. Mothers and their young may be separated soon after birth. Care, contact, rest, and natural behaviour become secondary to milk, meat, and production.
Natural lifespan
18 years
Goats used for milk production
around 6 years
Goats used for meat production
around 6 months
Male kids in the dairy industry
a few weeks
Images from animal agriculture.
Images from animal agriculture
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Production over the individual
In the industry, goats are often judged by what they produce, not by who they are.
Mother and kid
For milk production, female goats are made pregnant; their young do not always remain with them.
Young animals
Young goats and male kids need care, warmth, and protection, but often become part of a production system.
Restricted environment
Climbing, exploring, running, and playing are often limited by the environment in which they live.
Repeated use
Dairy goats are repeatedly made pregnant and milked for as long as this remains economically profitable.
Limited choice
Many goats have little control over their environment, social contact, or daily routine.
Transport
When animals are no longer profitable, they may be sent away for transport and slaughter.
Individuals
Behind every number is an individual: an animal with their own experiences, relationships, and need for safety.
This must stop.
The number of goats we kill every year is almost impossible to grasp. Yet each number represents an individual, each with their own personality, emotions, a unique experience of the world, and a desire to live.
0
An estimate of the number of goats killed worldwide since you opened this page. This estimate is based on figures of around 564 million goats killed each year
(Our World in Data).
Protect goats.
Goats are social, curious, communicative, and have a strong need for freedom. When we see who they truly are, it becomes difficult to reduce their lives to milk, meat, or a number. Let us leave these beautiful animals in peace by choosing plant-based.
Get startedPhotography credits
- Goats 6 — photo for “Mother and kid”: Come Closer Project / We Animals Media
- Goats 7 — photo for “Young animals”: Come Closer Project / We Animals Media
- Goats 8 — photo for “Restricted environment”: Come Closer Project / We Animals Media
- Goats 9 — photo for “Repeated use”: Lucas Vincour / Zvirata Nejime / We Animals Media
- Goats 12 — photo for “Individuals”: Havvo Zorlu / We Animals Media