Livestock are domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as meat , eggs , milk , fur , leather , and wool , and to produce labor. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to those that are bred for consumption, while other times it refers only to farmed ruminants , such as cattle and goats . [1] 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