Older English sources, such as the King James Version of the Bible, refer to livestock in general as "cattle", as opposed to the word "deer", which then was used for wild animals which were not owned. The word cattle is derived from Middle English chatel, which meant all kinds of movable personal property, including of course livestock, which was differentiated from non-movable real-estate. For a More Humane Treatment of Livestock Animals Animal rights activists have all the reasons to raise and condemn brutality issues involving livestock animals. This is a common subject of many arguments they raise against farmers and other producers of such animals, which are raised and bred for human consumption. When using a hot iron, make sure that it is heated correctly. It should have the color of ashes. If you allow the hot iron to become red-hot, it may lead to burning of your animal s hair and poor-quality branding. Avoid branding your animals if they are damp because it may result in scalding, blotching, or soreness. Another reason for raising beef cattle is that the prices of beef has surged in the recent years and have stayed that way since then. That means huge profits when you breed meat-producing cattle. 4. Pigs Raising pigs can be a very enjoyable endeavor, as they are easily cared for. As long as your pigs are raised and treated humanely, their pork will be very much in demand in the market. It is important that the branding iron has the proper temperature so that it will be able to burn and eliminate the hair and exterior layer of the skin. 4. Place the branding iron on the animal. Apply just the right amount of pressure for about 5 to 10 seconds. The correct length of time for applying the iron depends on the animal s breed, its hair cover, temperature of the iron, and weather condition. The Benefits of Raising Sheep as a Livestock Option Why should you raise sheep in your farm? There are a lot of reasons that explain why raising and keeping sheep is beneficial. As a livestock farmer, you also have to know your reasons for doing so, as this will help you determine the right breed to choose and the feeding systems you will use for your animals.