Goat meat (chevon and cabrito) production is growing globally, but welfare standards often lag behind cattle and sheep. Understanding goat-specific needs enables meaningful improvement.
Goat meat production welfare is an area where the informal and small-scale nature of production makes systematic welfare improvement difficult. Goats are intelligent, curious browsers who become frustrated in small, barren enclosures without climbing structures and varied forage. Their social bonds are strong and abrupt social disruption causes visible distress. Early weaning of kids, common in commercial production, causes acute distress in both mother and young. Transport conditions, particularly in low-income countries where goats may be transported for long distances in overcrowded vehicles without food or water, represent severe welfare failures. Building welfare awareness among smallholder producers through veterinary extension programs and market incentives offers the most practical path to improvement.