Livestock at the Crossroads

In agricultural settings, livestock are domesticated land animals bred to produce various commodities. They serve a range of functions for different people and sustain different agriculture-based food systems globally. Integrating science, engineering, and animal biotechnology offers a pragmatic approach to modifying living organisms, significantly advancing their sustainability. Four basic but related components contribute to the long-term viability of the global livestock industry. In order to accomplish these goals of livestock development, food and nutrition security, animal welfare and health, and ethical and environmental considerations, this chapter provides an overview of these four key elements with the application of biotechnology.