Goat meat production including kid transport and slaughter raises specific welfare concerns that are less regulated and researched than equivalent cattle or sheep welfare issues.
Kid goats transported for slaughter face multiple welfare challenges including separation from familiar companions, novel environments, and the physiological stress of transport. Young kids are particularly vulnerable to temperature extremes and require access to milk or feed during long journeys. Slaughter welfare for goats in non-EU markets is often poorly regulated. Pre-slaughter handling and lairage conditions significantly affect goat welfare in the immediate pre-slaughter period.