Goats raised for meat are among the least welfare-regulated farmed animals, with billions produced annually under highly variable conditions ranging from extensive pastoral systems to intensive confinement.
Goat welfare is a significant but underrecognized issue in animal agriculture. As highly social and cognitively active animals, goats suffer substantially from boredom, isolation, and barren environments. Parasitic disease — particularly barber pole worm — causes chronic anemia, weakness, and death in poorly managed flocks, often without effective treatment in low-resource contexts. Disbudding without anesthesia causes acute and potentially chronic pain. Transport to market is often prolonged and poorly managed. Yet goats are often overlooked in welfare discussions compared to pigs, chickens, and cattle. Their adaptability has been used to justify poor conditions rather than recognize their actual welfare needs.