Abstract Goats show high flexibility when faced with changing foraging and environmental conditions, as well as dynamic social settings. Their origins in complex natural environments have equipped them with a sophisticated behavioural repertoire grounded in a series of cognitive capacities. We outline examples of how goats navigate feeding, spatial and social contexts, by recognizing and remembering patterns, places and individuals. Using these examples, we argue that if we are to promote good welfare, goats require at least some opportunity to utilize these cognitive capacities. Using lab and farmed animal species, we highlight the benefits of providing an enriched housing environment, particularly the development of increased behavioural flexibility and its positive associations. Considering these, we argue that fostering goats' ability to express natural behaviour and make use of their cognitive capacities is grounded in rethinking how these animals are commonly housed. We therefore conclude with a discussion of options for goat-specific enrichment for commercial goat housing systems, namely variable diet components and delivery methods, as well as provision of choice in milking schedule, feed type and location, and in their social companions.

中文翻译：

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目前关于山羊认知能力的知识状态及其为特定物种丰富提供信息的潜力

摘要 山羊在面对不断变化的觅食和环境条件以及动态的社会环境时表现出高度的灵活性。他们在复杂的自然环境中的起源使他们具备了以一系列认知能力为基础的复杂行为库。我们概述了山羊如何通过识别和记住模式、地点和个人来导航进食、空间和社会环境的示例。使用这些例子，我们认为，如果我们要促进良好的福利，山羊至少需要一些机会来利用这些认知能力。我们使用实验室和养殖动物物种，强调提供丰富的居住环境的好处，特别是提高行为灵活性及其积极关联的发展。考虑到这些，我们认为养山羊 表达自然行为和利用其认知能力的能力基于重新思考这些动物的共同饲养方式。因此，我们最后讨论了商业山羊饲养系统的山羊特定浓缩选项，即可变的饮食成分和交付方法，以及在挤奶时间表、饲料类型和位置以及它们的社会伙伴方面的选择。