Livestock

Livestock are domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce labor or commodities such as meat, milk, leather, and wool. The term is often used to refer solely to those mammals that have been bred for consumption or other purposes [1] though sometimes it only refers to animals that produces a commodity, produces meat and or are ruminants, such as cattle and goats.[citation needed]

In recent years, some organizations have also raised livestock to promote the survival of rare breeds. The breeding, maintenance, and slaughter of these animals, known as animal husbandry, is a component of modern agriculture that has been practiced in many cultures since humanity's transition to farming from hunter-gatherer lifestyles.

Animal husbandry practices have varied widely across cultures and time periods. Originally, livestock were not confined by fences or enclosures, but these practices have largely shifted to intensive animal farming, sometimes referred to as "factory farming". Now, over 99% of livestock are raised on factory farms.[2] These practices increase yield of the various commercial outputs, but have also led to negative impacts on animal welfare and the environmental. Livestock production continues to play a major economic and cultural role in numerous rural communities.