Livestocks is more commonly defined as domestic mammals raised in an agrarian setting to make milk, eggs, meat, fur, and other household commodities such as wool, milk, eggs, and skins. Livestocks is generally defined as any species of domesticated animal that can be used as a commercial or domestic animal for meat production, dairy products, and other industries. There are currently approximately 13 billion domesticated animals in the world and the vast majority of them are cattle. There are a variety of industries that utilize the services of livestock such as meat production, dairy and egg production, and other pet products like companions, handicrafts, or cosmetics.
The term “pastoralism” is a term that is commonly used to describe any variety of farming that uses horses, donkeys, oxen, ostriches, and any other number of farm animal genetic resources. In most cases, pastoralists are considered to be specialists who have a special responsibility for the management of herds and their offspring, as well as the management of the landscape they live in and how they farm. They can be located on a private farm, commercial farm, or wildlife preserve. Some ranchers take on part-time work from the public in order to supplement their income. For example, a veterinarian might serve as a pastoralist on a state-managed wildlife preserve.
The first group of professionals to introduce the concept of pastoralism to the west were the Canadian raisers. The early pioneers of modern day pastoralism were interested in improving the productivity of the country’s cattle farms, and they welcomed the idea of encouraging wildlife and natural resource conservation. Their attempts to improve the quality of the local agricultural produce and the productivity of their own herds resulted in financial success and a name for modern day pastoralists. These first farmers had no formal education in agriculture, but they understood the importance of working with their hands. They were able to earn a living by establishing self-owned businesses that focused on the care and feeding of the local deer population, as well as other small animal species such as sheep and goats. Many of these first ranchers became the progeny of wealthy landholders who saw the vast potential of raising livestock for meat and dairy products, as well as for fiber, hay and grain.