What is pastoral farming?

Pastoral farming is defined as a type of agriculture that primarily focuses on the rearing of livestock, which includes animals such as sheep, cattle, goats, and sometimes horses. This system of farming is typically practiced in areas that may not be as suitable for crop production due to factors like soil quality, climate, or topography.

In pastoral farming, the emphasis is on the maintenance of livestock for various purposes, including meat, milk, and wool production. The livestock are often raised on natural pastures, which can offer a sustainable way to utilize land that might otherwise remain unproductive. This form of farming can take various shapes, from extensive grazing systems across large tracts of land to more intensive systems where animals are often kept in closer quarters.

In contrast, options that focus on agriculture primarily for crop production or specify specific types of farming, such as plantation farming or organic farming without livestock, do not align with the fundamental characteristics of pastoral farming. This distinction makes rearing livestock the defining aspect of pastoral farming practices.