How Mother Matters: The Long-Term Effects of Early Separation in Goats

What happens when a goat kid grows up without its mother? This study follows dam-reared and artificially reared goats into adulthood to explore how early separation shapes stress responses and social behavior. The findings offer practical insights for anyone raising goats, especially in situations where dam bonding is not possible.

Early maternal separation alters goat social and stress responses

Goat kids are often separated from their mothers within days of birth, especially in dairy operations. But what happens when we take that early bond away? Does it linger? Does it shape who a goat becomes? A 2023 study published in Animal journal tackled these questions by following artificially reared and dam-reared goats all the way into adulthood to see what changed, and what didn’t.

Researchers raised one group of Saanen kids with their mothers until natural weaning, while the other group was separated just three days after birth and raised in peer groups. Both were raised on the same organic Austrian farm under consistent management. Then, at 18 months of age, the goats were observed during various stress-inducing situations: short-term isolation, introduction to an unfamiliar adult herd, and human handling. Researchers monitored behavior and measured salivary and fecal cortisol levels to assess stress.

What they found was nuanced. Artificially reared goats didn’t show major deficits in everyday behaviors within their home pens. But when introduced to a larger herd of unfamiliar adult goats, they faced more aggression, initiated fewer interactions, and withdrew more frequently. This suggests a weaker social coping strategy in group settings. Interestingly, they were also slightly more tolerant of human contact and recovered more quickly after being handled, perhaps because they had grown up being bottle-fed and managed more directly.

Cortisol levels told a parallel story. While both groups showed signs of stress during isolation or regrouping, artificially reared goats had stronger peaks and slower recovery. This indicates a more sensitive stress-response system, likely rooted in early-life disruption. The goats raised with their mothers showed more balanced, adaptive responses, approaching other goats more quickly, rebounding faster, and spending less time frozen or withdrawn.

One particularly telling moment came during group mixing. The dam-reared goats were more likely to engage confidently and maintain contact with others. Artificially reared goats spent more time alone, and when threatened by dominant adults, were less assertive in response. They weren’t simply timid; they lacked some of the social fluency that goats naturally develop through early maternal interaction.

Limitations

This study was well-structured, but it does have boundaries. The sample size was modest and came from a single farm, using only Saanen goats under organic management. We don’t yet know how these findings translate to meat breeds, mixed flocks, or more commercial settings. Also, while 18 months is a valuable developmental checkpoint, the research did not explore effects on breeding behavior, long-term health, or stress adaptation. These would all be worthy follow-ups.

Relevance for Us

For goat keepers, the message is both clear and useful. If possible, letting kids stay with their dams longer seems to support stronger social behavior and a more resilient stress response later in life. Even if full dam-rearing isn’t feasible, there are ways to support development. Raising kids in stable peer groups, limiting early disruptions, and handling them calmly can all reduce the negative effects of early separation. It’s also helpful to be aware that artificially reared goats may need more support during herd introductions, kidding, or stressful procedures. Knowing how early life affects temperament allows us to plan ahead.

Quick Takeaways

Early separation from mothers affects how goats handle social stress and group interactions.
Artificially reared goats were more withdrawn in new group settings and had higher stress markers.
Dam-reared goats were more socially confident and bounced back more quickly from challenges.
Gentle peer bonding, stable environments, and consistent handling may help compensate when dam rearing isn’t an option.

Author Bios

Claire Toinon, MSc is a researcher in animal behavior and welfare at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. Her work focuses on how early-life conditions shape emotional and social development in goats.
Dr. Susanne Waiblinger is a professor and ethologist specializing in farm animal welfare and human-animal relationships. Based at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, she has led research on livestock behavior for over two decades.
Dr. Rupert Palme is a physiologist and leading expert in non-invasive hormone monitoring at the Institute of Physiology, Vetmeduni Vienna. He developed many of the hormone assays used to study stress in animals.
Dr. Jean-Loup Rault studies animal welfare and emotional states in livestock. Formerly based in Australia, he now leads research on social bonds and positive welfare states in farm animals at Vetmeduni Vienna.

(Biographies based on institutional pages and published research profiles.)

Funding

This research was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), project number P30517-B32.

Citation

Toinon, C., Waiblinger, S., Palme, R., & Rault, J.-L. (2023). Long-term effects of early maternal deprivation on goat social behaviour and stress response. Animal, 17(5), 100814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.100814

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