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 ...