08/14/2026
I totally agree. Please don't pull them by their tails.
In Australia the Animal Welfare Act standards and guidelines G5.7: "Tails should not be twisted when moving goats"
That rule is there to prevent pain, stress, and injury. Here’s why:
Pain and injury
A goat’s tail is an extension of the spine. It has vertebrae, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels.
Twisting or wringing the tail can:
Cause severe pain - lots of nerve endings there
Dislocate or fracture the tail bones
Tear muscles, ligaments, and skin
Damage nerves which can lead to long-term problems with balance, defecation, or tail function
Stress and fear
Goats are prey animals. Grabbing/twisting the tail is seen as a predator attack. It causes:
High stress → spikes cortisol, can lead to injury as they panic and try to escape
Trust issues → makes them harder to handle in future
Poor welfare and bad handling practice
Using the tail to move goats is a shortcut instead of proper low-stress handling. Welfare codes promote:
Moving goats by walking behind them or using boards/flags to guide
Using a halter or by guiding the body, not the tail
Twisting tails is considered an unnecessary and avoidable cause of suffering, which is exactly what animal welfare laws aim to prevent.
Other risks
A damaged tail can also lead to:
Infection if skin is torn
Flystrike in warmer areas
Reduced communication - goats use tail position to signal mood/health.
Bottom line: Tail twisting causes pain without any real benefit. Proper handling is safer for both you and the goat, and it keeps you compliant with welfare standards.
