Talk:Livestock

"Livestock farming practices have largely shifted to intensive animal farming, sometimes referred to as "factory farming"; over 99% of livestock in the US are now raised in this way.[4] "

This is probably not true and the citation certainly doesn't support it. The source doesn't actually mention any percentages or other figures for intensive/factory farming so I really don't know how they came up with 99%. The number is also at odds with statements made in the farming practices section of the article about ranching of cattle in the US which is not included in the intensive farming definition. I'm a bit unclear on where/how to get a more accurate number, but for comparison the percentages cited on the intensive farming page would total 29% so perhaps that might somewhere to start? Alternatively, it might be better to remove the statement altogether until an accurate number is found? Also it implies that intensive farming is used more often than not on a global scale which is also wildly inaccurate. Wherowhero (talk) 06:35, 29 May 2021 (UTC)

That was indeed a pretty blatant WP:SYNTH violation I picked up on while tracking down some older edits where that originated from. I at least removed the 99% part, though it looks like the whole pargraph could use a look. KoA (talk) 18:15, 25 September 2021 (UTC)

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 24 January 2023 and 19 May 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Leonardo Lomeli (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Leonardo Lomeli (talk) 19:07, 20 March 2023 (UTC)

The article lead currently seems to conflate livestock with farm animals, rather than specifically with farmed animals. A plough horse, for example, is a farm animal not usually considered livestock. (— 𝐬𝐝𝐒𝐝𝐬 — - talk) 18:34, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

Just to be sure, please read (or re-read) WP:LEAD. That livestock refers to animals used for labor is already sourced, and I've also not heard of this idea that animals used for labor are not considered livestock. Horses are probably one of the better known examples. At least based on sources, it would seem like a pretty WP:UNDUE idea. At this point, it would take some major sourcing to say there's significant disagreement that livestock explicitly does not refer to such animals. KoA (talk) 18:49, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

@KoA: Thanks for your reply. Please indicate where in the article the use of livestock for labor is described. (Are you referring to the deadlink indicating horses are not pets?) (— 𝐬𝐝𝐒𝐝𝐬 — - talk) 22:41, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

Please be mindful of personal opinions contradicting sources here. You're trying to claim that livestock engaging in labor are not livestock in your recent edits. You only had to click the dictionary link. Horses are already discussed as livestock as maybe the most prominent example even in places where they are not consumed. Livestock generally refers to any animal raised or used on a farm. Generally any working animal use on a farm qualifies as livestock, and you'll see them usually included on lists such as here (especially read the horse one).

Again, if you want to try creating a change that working animals on farms are distinctly not livestock, you really need to bring sources and get consensus for that because so many sources already are contradicting your point of view on this. KoA (talk) 01:00, 16 September 2025 (UTC)

Thanks again for your feedback. What I'm trying to do here, and I assume you are as well, is improve the article in ways consistent with WP:POLICY. We agree the reliance on WP:RS is fundamental. Would you like to fix the deadlink about horses as pets or would it be more of an improvement to remove that sentence? (— 𝐬𝐝𝐒𝐝𝐬 — - talk) 06:34, 16 September 2025 (UTC)