Whereas most consumers know livestock animals in their appropriately packaged forms as pieces of meat in plastic bags and Styrofoam, the business of livestock breeding and animal husbandry is still, without a doubt, a huge business. With the spread of mad cow and foot-and-mouth diseases in the recent years, the topic is of no minor importance to every consumer of livestock products. Another important feature of livestock trailers is the nonslip floors. This is because animals usually panic if they slip. Partitioned areas within the vehicle may also help decrease the risk of injury. This however depends largely on the animals. Transportation Precautions A crucial rule in transporting livestock is to know how to handle the type of animal being transported. 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. It may not leave any marking at all. Also, don t trust your branding iron to someone who has no experience using it, as it may cause injury to that person or to the animals that will be branded. Livestock producers place selected males and females of one species in the same area and allow them to mate at random. Farmers practice inbreeding by mating animals that are closely related to each other. This method produces a pure breed of livestock. Livestock owners select animals for inbreeding by studying their pedigrees, which list the traits of animal s ancestors. 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. Figure out what buyers are looking for in sheep and goats. Get feedback from your customers, too, so that you know what to offer them next time. When selling sheep or goats, consider the major religious holidays. Muslim holidays such as the Eid ul-Fidr (Festival of Fast-Breaking) and Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) are the ideal time to sell sheep and goats in public auctions.