Types of farming

According to the capital investment:

• Extensive livestock farming: the capital investment (in feed, farms, etc) is limited and productivity low. The livestock is mostly cattle and sheep, and grazes on large pastures in the open air.

• Intensive livestock farming: capital investment (in feed, farms, etc) labour and productivity are high. Mostly cattle, pigs and poultry are farmed.

According to feeding methods

• Grazing livestock: animals feed on grass. This is an example of extensive farming.
• Confined livestock: animals are kept in sheds and covered pens, and eat feed. This is an example of intensive farming.
• Semi-confined livestock: in summer, the animals eat grass; when there is not enough grass, they eat feed.

According to mobility of livestock:

• Nomadic herding: herders and their families are constantly moving with their animals in search of good pasture.

• Transhumance (seasonal migrration of livestock): herders move their animals several times a year between winter and summer pastures.

• Sedentary livestock farming: animal do not have to move around to obtain food because farmers give them feed.