Livestock

Livestock is the term used to refer (singularly or plurally) to a domesticated animal intentionally reared in an agricultural setting to produce things such as food or fibre, or for its labour. The term as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning of 'livestock' is common.

Livestock may be raised for subsistence or for profit. Raising animals (animal husbandry) is an important component of modern agriculture. It has been practiced

Origins

Animal-rearing has its origins in the transition of societies to settled farming communities rather than hunter-gatherer lifestyles. Animals are ‘domesticated’ when their breeding and living conditions are controlled by humans. Over time, the collective behaviour, life cycle, and physiology of livestock have changed radically. Many modern farm animals are unsuited to life in the wild. Dogs were domesticated in East Asia about 15,000 years ago, Goats and sheep were domesticated around 8000 BCE in Asia.[citation needed] Swine or pigs were domesticated by 7000 BCE in the Middle East and China . The earliest evidence of horse domestication dates to around 4000 BCE
Types

The term "livestock" is nebulous and may be defined narrowly or broadly. On a broader view, livestock refers to any breed or population of animal kept by humans for a useful, commercial purpose. This can mean domestic animals, semi-domestic animals, or captive wild animals. Semi-domesticated refers to animals which are only lightly domesticated or of disputed status. These populations may also be in the process of domestication. Some people may use the term livestock to refer just to domestic animals or even just to red meat animals.

Animal rearing
A Brown Swiss cow in the Swiss Alps

‘Livestock’ are defined, in part, by their end purpose as the production of food or fiber, or labour.

The economic value of livestock includes:

Meat the production of a useful form of dietary protein and energy.
Dairy products
Mammalian livestock can be used as a source of milk, which can in turn easily be processed into other dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, butter, ice cream, kefir, and kumis. Using livestock for this purpose can often yield several times the food energy of slaughtering the animal outright.
Fiber
Livestock produce a range of fiber/textiles. For example, sheep and goats produce wool and mohair; cows, deer, and sheep can make leather; and bones, hooves and horns of livestock can be used.
Fertilizer
Manure can be spread on fields to increase crop yields. This is an important reason why historically, plant and animal domestication have been intimately linked. Manure is also used to make plaster for walls and floors and can be used as a fuel for fires. The blood and bone of animals are also used as fertilizer.
Labour
Animals such as horses, donkey, and yaks can be used for mechanical energy. Prior to steam power livestock were the only available source of non-human labour. They are still used for this purpose in many places of the world, including ploughing fields, transporting goods, and military functions.
Land management
The grazing of livestock is sometimes used as a way to control weeds and undergrowth. For example, in areas prone to wild fires, goats and sheep are set to graze on dry scrub which removes combustible material and reduces the risk of fires.

During the history of animal husbandry many secondary products have arisen in an attempt to increase carcass utilization and reduce waste. For example, animal offal and non-edible parts may be transformed into products such as pet food and fertilizer. In the past such waste products were sometimes also fed to livestock as well. However, intra-species recycling poses a disease risk, threatening animal and even human health (see bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), scrapie and prion). Due primarily to BSE (mad cow disease), feeding animal scraps to animals has been banned in many countries, at least in regards to ruminants and pigs.

Stuffed Animals

Stuffed Animals are toy animals stuffed with cotton, straw, beans, and opposite similar materials. These are an ideal present for a child or animal lover for all gift occasions. They are promotional favorites at children's games, charity functions, and a multitude of events. Popular stuffed animals include bears, rabid animals, cats, aquatic animals, dogs, winged animals, primates, marsupials, puppets, reptiles, and farm animals. But teddy bears and sock monkeys are classics this remain the most popular among stuffed animals. Stuffed animals have a tendency to undergo a soothing effect. A child needs something tangible and concrete to hold on during a time of crisis, so stuffed animals make a perfect gift for a child going in bad times. Through the centuries, most societies and cultures exhausted stuffed critters for children's entertainment. Ancient tomb paintings stand testimony to the use of stuffed animals for religious purposes in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamian civilizations. Stuffed creatures got often spent in plays to represent Biblical animals in medieval Europe. Stuffed animals came to be regarded as an entertainment product in the nineteenth century. These toys assumed the dimensions of an industrial product with the arrival of commercial enterprises. The baby sector of the 1950s created a massive necessity for stuffed toy animals. Founded in 1880 in Germany, the Steiff Company was the first commercial association to produce stuffed animals. The production of stuffed creatures has been steadily increasing for the duration of the years. The earliest stuffed animals got came up with by filling the empty skins of hunted animals. Today, with the help of modern technology, stuffed animals are created synthetically. Most synthetic stuffed animals have an outer covering built of natural materials to put up them a natural look. Modern stuffed critters come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Prices depend on the quality of materials, softness, and the realistic appearance of the stuffed animal.