Goat meat (chevon) production is growing globally, with intensive kidding systems raising welfare concerns similar to those in pig and poultry production. Kid welfare from birth through weaning involves specific challenges around hypothermia, nutrition, and early life stress.
Neonatal kids are highly susceptible to hypothermia in the first six hours of life: kids that do not receive adequate colostrum from their dam and access to warmth rapidly develop fatal hypothermia. Intensive kidding management requires 24-hour surveillance during peak kidding periods. Early weaning — before 8 weeks — causes persistent stress and abnormal repetitive behaviours including redirected suckling on penmates. Male dairy kids killed at birth for economic reasons raise welfare questions about the most humane killing method and whether extended rearing systems are viable. Welfare improvements include adequate colostrum management, dry shelter, and extended suckling periods.