Is it even the eating that bothers her? OP says she’s considering moving barns because of being exposed to “animal processing,” despite the fact she didn’t witness any slaughter or processing, and it doesn’t sound like either are a regular occurrence at the farm. It’s very odd.
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I just hope that the barn workers’ Christmas hasn’t been ruined because of the ignorance of others.
I wish that they were here and could see the support that we have for them.
I am ashamed by some U.S. people’s treatment of people who were raised in other cultures.
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I always ask those folks if they eat any dairy - milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. Many dont realize veal is the byproduct of the dairy industry.
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My great aunt and uncle raised me, on a farm. They raised cattle, chickens and pigs. We weren’t present for the slaughtering. But we knew what happened. We knew what we were eating.
When I was 10, I had to go live with my mom, in town. I spent most school holidays on the farm. When I was 12 or so, my uncle got 5-6 calves. I spent the summer taming them, brushing, and yes…riding…the calves. He gave my mom a freezer of beef that fall. I refused to eat beef until it was gone and being bought at the store.
A few years ago we went halves raising a steer. When the renderer came, I was in the barn sobbing on my horse. Now, the steer would as soon have stomped me, but I hand fed him thru the fence. Yes, I ate the beef this time.
I personally have not tried goat. But I have no problem with others doing so.
Heck, I remember horse meat being available at the butcher shop back in the 60’s. Our family didn’t eat it, thank goodness. We hosted a Korean teacher for an exchange 12-15 years ago. They have dog farms like we have cattle farms. His family didn’t eat it, but it was common. Not sure if it still is. Of course it’s horrifying to us, dogs are pets. But, that is (was?) their culture
I stand by my actions.
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I had goat last week in the Philippines.
I will say I love sharks. They are so strong and beautiful. As a diver, I have spent many an hour next to sharks, often 14+ foot sharks.
I would rather eat a goat by far. Sharks are so magnificent! Goats are…goats. They are fine
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Given that they are living on someone else’s property, they should have received prior approval.
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The action to be regretted is that there was not previous approval of the barn owner to bring the goat on the property.
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Agreed, but that is not your problem, that’s for the BO to handle with their staff.
Do you agree that in general one should not give food or drink to an animal without prior approval?
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A sidetrack but one of my most expensive totally unnecessary vet bills was because someone in the barn brought home a pony from Unadilla (NY) auction and stuck it right next to my horse’s stall, zero quarantine.
Whole barn ended up getting Strangles. 
I couldn’t get out of that barn fast enough. Made me realize some BOs are just crazy.
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Yes, they should have , but you don’t own the farm, this is not your call. Not your animal to feed. This is not a difficult concept. Don’t mess with other people’s animals without taking the time to find out the reasoning behind the situation, from the OWNER of the animal.
That is obvious, and I feel sorry for the people who have had a negative holiday experience because of your self righteous attitude. You make it quite clear that you don’t care how your knee jerk reactions affect other people, especially people who are most likely less fortunate than you. I bet that you have humiliated people who are only trying to have a holiday dinner and are doing nothing wrong (except in your high and mighty opinion.)
You are not being exposed to the to the slaughter of goats against your will.
I hope that you don’t feed someone else’s horse because you think you know what is best for it. You can kill an animal with that attitude.
If you are concerned about an animal then ASK. It is basic respect for other people and their animals. This concept shouldn’t be so difficult for you to understand.
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I agree. Apparently some people think of all animals as being “pets”. The ignorance and separation from reality is ridiculous. We see it in the National Parks all too often, when people are killed or injured by wild animals because they seem to think that animals are Disney characters.
We owe livestock the best life we can give them and a humane slaughter. I am ashamed that people behave like the OP has to the barn staff on this holiday season, and that the OP has no regret.
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I see a significant difference with this situation. The barn owner had no idea who the goat belonged to, why there was even a goat on the property, and had every right to decide what should be done. Thus approval was obtained.
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I didn’t do anything to the barn staff. What happens/happened is between them and their employer.
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You fed a goat that belonged to the barn staff without their permission. According to your posts, you kicked up a fuss. Now it’s the barn manager’s doing?
I hope your post reflects that you now understand why you should not take it upon yourself to interfere with other people’s animals. Honestly, I thought people learned that lesson in childhood, don’t touch it if it is not yours.
If you are concerned, by all means ask about it, but don’t barge in thinking that you know what is best, when you don’t, and when you have not even tried to ask the animal’s owner about the situation.
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This happened to me at a place I boarded! Except the goat wasn’t in a shed, he lived in a pen for weeks right next to the jump ring. Anyway, Easter Sunday, goatie was roasting. I don’t think anybody was conscious of the ultimate plan for that guy until looking back, the timing did make sense. 
Tasty treat tho-sure was nice for the guys to share their special dinner
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OP, if you’d posted with some self-awareness–“You know, goats are one of my favorite animals. I know it’s not rational, but this afternoon I was at the barn, and I learned that the workers had a live goat and were going to eat it for their Christmas dinner, and I’m really upset, especially after seeing the goat, who was super-cute and super-sweet. Has anyone had the experience, even if you eat meat, to feel really upset when you see the animal you know someone is going to eat?”–I think you would have gotten a lot of sympathy, and probably I would have felt the same way, sad. Maybe even did a little Googling about what cultures eat goat?
I admit when I’m running, I often see deer, and sometimes I post photos of them on Facebook and it’s a little odd when people make jokes about venison rather than how pretty they are. But I let it pass. And I “barely” eat meat, other than what swims, and it sounds like you don’t have objections to eating meat per se.
I think you also need to take a minute to appreciate most barn workers have a hard road to hoe. Obviously, they should have spoke with the BO, and the issue is being addressed, so this affects your boarding situation not at all, unless you feel that because people eat a kind of meat you personally don’t eat they are bad people, and I admit, since I have family members who do eat goat (albeit only on very rare special occasions), that is why your post makes me so uncomfortable. Even as a person who eats neither goat, lamb, nor pig.
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Exactly. Someone brings livestock without permission (pet, eating, whatever) onto an ag business, they’d be out on their ear.
Imagine if the barn workers snuck in a pet pony. No vaccs, no coggins, no permission. BO would do their lolly.
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I don’t CARE that they ate the goat!
I do, however, think bringing livestock onto someone’s property is a fireable offence.
Repeat: I do not care about what was planned for said goat. I have eaten goat. We do goat curry.
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Oof, yep. That was definitely a concern in the early days of the Hendra outbreak here.
As my vet pointed out to me: every horse that tests positive, sick or not, gets put down. (Once the vaccine was in place, your horse could test for antibodies and if it had been vacc’ed, it wasn’t euth’ed.) A lot of horses stayed home for a bit.
