A History of Livestock and People
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
3-21-2024
Abstract
This chapter offers a global overview of the history of livestock. It focuses exclusively on ungulates (hoofed mammals), as the most significant livestock throughout history, and, more specifically, on cattle and hogs as the most important livestock in terms of meat production and global presence. It argues that the animality of livestock was initially a benefit to humans, as animals could feed and reproduce themselves as well as move independently to market. However, with advances in technology and science, these advantages have largely disappeared. By the twenty-first century, the animality of livestock is more of a liability, contributing to environmental and climatic degradation.
Published In
Strom, C. (2024). A history of livestock and people. In J. Whayne (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of agricultural history (online ed.). Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190924164.013.3
Publication Title
Oxford Academic
DOI
10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190924164.013.3