Livestocks are commonly defined as domestic animals raised in a farming setting to produce useful living commodities such as milk, eggs, meat, fur, bone, leather, and wool for consumption. Livestock can be tamed and handled and then used for various purposes such as providing food, keeping pets, and earning cash. Some types of livestock include cattle, horse, sheep, goat, poultry, zoo animals, and bovine. The word “livestock” comes from the Latin word meaning “of the land”.
There are four primary types of livestock: wild, domestic, arable, and pastoral. Wild animals such as wild turkeys, deer, foxes, bears, raccoons, eagles, birds, and mice were originally sourced from the parts of the world where they grow wild, such as forests and deserts. In ancient times, nomadic pastoralists would raise cattle, goats, buffalo, ostriches, and wild boar to provide milk, meat, fuel, and fertilizer.
Domestic livestock such as chickens, ducks, swine, turkey, catfish, dogs, rats, mice, gerbils, and rats were obtained through trade, warfare, and slavery. Livestock such as cattle, horses, buffalo, ostriches, zoo animals, and bovine were later brought to areas that were meant for farming. Since early days, pastoralists have been raising livestock, taming them, and utilizing them for different purposes. This has made the industry grow and become a significant part of our lives. Pastoralists still play an important role in the lives of many people today because they serve as an essential link between people and nature by using plants and animals to help improve their way of life.