Goat meat (chevon and kid) is the most widely consumed red meat globally but welfare standards in production vary enormously - understanding key welfare issues informs better consumer choices.
Goat meat welfare is a largely invisible issue in UK consumer consciousness. The lack of species-specific welfare assurance means imported goat meat comes with no guaranteed welfare standards. Domestically, the absence of a robust goat meat welfare certification creates a gap between stated welfare values and purchasing practice for those who do consume goat meat. Goat welfare challenges include their strong motivation to browse and climb - drives that intensive systems frustrate - and their susceptibility to internal parasites in high-density conditions. Developing goat-specific welfare standards and assurance schemes is an important welfare priority for this globally significant species.