Goats are the most widely consumed meat animal globally, yet receive minimal welfare regulatory attention in most producing countries. Understanding their specific welfare needs is essential for improvement.
Goat meat production welfare is one of the most overlooked areas in global animal welfare. The scale - over a billion animals - and the concentration of production in countries with minimal regulatory frameworks means that welfare problems affect enormous numbers of animals with little oversight. Goats kept on bare soil without browsing opportunities experience behavioral frustration from their inability to express natural foraging behavior. Their climbing and exploration drive is frequently thwarted by inadequate environments. Goat-specific nutritional needs differ from sheep, meaning that feeding programs designed for sheep cause deficiencies in goats. Long-distance live transport in international trade is a significant welfare concern. The combination of scale, regulatory gaps, and species-specific misunderstanding creates conditions for chronic welfare compromise.