Livestock

Livestock are domesticated animals that are raised in an agricultural setting mainly to provide labor and produce diversified animal products for human consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. They include animals like cattle, sheep, and goats, which are important sources of food and materials for people around the world.

The practice of raising livestock, known as animal husbandry, has been a part of human life for thousands of years. It began when people changed from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to farming, and it has continued to be a key part of many cultures and economies.

Today, most livestock farming uses intensive animal farming methods, which help produce more food but can also affect animal welfare, the environment, and public health. For example, some types of livestock farming, like beef, dairy, and sheep, contribute a lot to greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

Etymology

The word livestock first appeared between 1650 and 1660, combining "live" and "stock." Over time, its meaning changed. Today, "cattle" usually refers to domesticated bovines, while livestock includes a wider range of farm animals.

In the United States, federal laws define livestock in different ways for various programs. For example, the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 includes only cattle, swine, and sheep. Horses are also considered livestock in the United States. The USDA classifies pork, veal, beef, and lamb as livestock, but poultry and fish are not included in this category.

History

Further information: History of agriculture

Animal-rearing began when people changed from moving around to settling in one place and farming. Animals became livestock when people started controlling where and how they lived and had babies. Over many years, these animals changed a lot and are now very different from their wild ancestors.

Dogs were the first animals that people made into friends, appearing in Europe and the Far East about 15,000 years ago. After that, goats and sheep were tamed in Southwest Asia between 11,000 and 5,000 years ago. Pigs were brought home first in the Near East around 8,500 BC and later in China around 6,000 BC. Horses were domesticated around 4,000 BC, and cattle have been with us since about 10,500 years ago. Chickens and other birds were also tamed around 7,000 BC.

Types

The term "livestock" can mean different things. It usually refers to animals that people keep for useful or commercial purposes.

Micro-livestock

Main articles: Rodent farming and Rabbit farming

See also: Animal husbandry § Range of species

Micro-livestock are smaller animals that people also raise. This includes rodents and rabbits, as well as even smaller animals like crickets and honey bees. Micro-livestock generally does not include fish or chickens.

Farming practices

Main article: Animal husbandry

Traditionally, raising animals was a key part of farming life. It provided not just food, but also materials like wool, fuel, fertilizer, clothing, and even help with transportation. Animals were often used for work before being killed for food.

There are different ways to care for animals. In some places, animals roam freely or are watched over by a person to keep them safe from predators. In the Western United States, for example, large groups of cattle graze over big areas of land. Similar practices exist in South America, Australia, and other places with lots of open land. In other areas, like the United Kingdom, sheep graze on hillsides during the spring and move to lower areas in the winter.

In some rural areas, animals like pigs and chickens can find much of their own food by scavenging. In contrast, in many parts of the world, animals are kept in controlled environments. For example, dairy cows might stay inside with all their food brought to them, or pigs might live in buildings and never go outside. There are also farms that mix these methods, allowing animals to graze outside while storing extra food for times when grass doesn’t grow.

Predation

Livestock farmers sometimes face challenges from wild animals that try to take their animals. In North America, threats can come from gray wolves, grizzly bears, cougars, and coyotes. Other places have their own predators: Eurasia and Africa have wolves, leopards, tigers, lions, and other wild animals. South America has jaguars and feral dogs, while Australia deals with dingoes, foxes, and even some large birds like wedge-tailed eagles. These animals can sometimes cause problems for farmers and their livestock.

Disease

Good care, proper food, and clean living conditions help keep farm animals healthy and productive. When animals do get sick, farmers and veterinarians use special medicines to treat them, following rules set by groups like the European Union.

Animals can get various illnesses, some affecting only certain types like classical swine fever or scrapie, while others, like foot-and-mouth disease, impact many kinds of animals. Governments may place restrictions to protect animal health. Vaccines and antibiotics are important tools for preventing and treating diseases, though using antibiotics to help animals grow is now discouraged due to concerns about antibiotic resistance. As the world’s climate changes, experts expect animal diseases to become more challenging.

Transportation and marketing

Further information: Agricultural show

Historically, many animals were moved to markets on foot, but today, trucks are commonly used in developed countries. Livestock auctions and markets help farmers buy and sell animals. In some places, like Canada, large facilities handle many cattle each day. In other areas, such as Central Asia, animals are sold in bazaars or wet markets. Access to markets helps farmers improve their lives by allowing them to invest more in their livestock. Stock shows are events where farmers showcase and compete with their best animals.

Biomass

Humans and livestock make up more than 90% of the biomass of all terrestrial vertebrates. This means that most of the weight of animals that walk on land is from people and the animals we raise on farms. In fact, this amount is almost as much as the total weight of all insects together.

Economic and social benefits

Livestock play an important role in the global economy. In 2013, the value of livestock production was estimated at 883 billion dollars. This production supports many industries, including food processing, transportation, and manufacturing.

Livestock provide many products, such as meat, milk, wool, leather, and pharmaceuticals. Their manure helps keep land fertile, and in some places, it is even used for fuel. Livestock can also serve as a source of energy for farming and transportation. They offer economic security for families, especially in times of difficulty, and help support rural communities and cultural traditions.

Environmental impact

Animal husbandry has a big effect on our planet. It uses a lot of fresh water and takes up about a third of the world's land that isn't covered in ice. Raising animals for food helps cause the loss of plant and animal species, destroys habitats, and contributes to climate change.

Livestock also produce greenhouse gases that warm the Earth. Cows, for example, release methane into the air, and farming practices add to emissions of nitrous oxide. Better farming methods could help lower these emissions.

Impacts of climate change

Climate change affects livestock in many ways. Warmer temperatures can change where animals can live and how much food they need. Extreme weather, like heavy rains or long droughts, can damage farms and reduce the amount of food available for animals.

These changes can also affect the health of livestock. Some diseases may spread more easily in warmer climates, impacting both animals and the people who depend on them. Farmers must adapt their practices to protect their animals and maintain food supplies.

Animal ethics

Further information: Animal ethics

Animal ethics is a part of philosophy that looks at how humans should treat animals. It asks big questions about whether it is right to use animals for food and what responsibilities we have to farm animals.

Today, many animals are raised on places called factory farms where they live in very tight spaces. Most people do not know about some of the ways animals are treated on these farms. Some people choose not to eat animal products because they believe farming animals is not kind.