Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Transportation and Marketing of Livestock

Livestock is the term used to refer to a domesticated animal intentionally reared in an agricultural setting to make produce such as food or fibre, or for its labor. The term generally does not include poultry or farmed fish. Livestock may be raised for subsistence or for profit. Raising animals (animal husbandry) is an important component of modern agriculture. It has been practiced in many societies, since the transition to farming from hunter-gather lifestyles.

Transportation and Marketing

Livestock transportation is the movement of live animals, by ship, rail, road or air. Livestock is shipped for many reasons, including but not limited to sale, auction, breeding, livestock shows, rodeos, fairs, slaughter, and grazing. Since many livestock are herd animals, they were historically driven to market "on the hoof" to a town or other central location. During the period after the American Civil War, the abundance of Longhorn cattle in Texas and the demand for beef in Northern markets led to the popularity of the Old West cattle drive. The method is still used in some parts of the world. Truck transport is now common in developed countries. Local and regional livestock auctions and commodity markets facilitate trade in livestock. In other areas livestock may be bought and sold in a bazaar, such as may be found in many parts of Central Asia, or a flea market type setting such as the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas.

Today trucking companies that have specialized trailers for this purpose transports most livestock and processed meat.