Mankind has been using cattle for as long as we can tell. Early cattle served three purposes. They provided milk, meat, and labor to their owners. Over time, their labor purposes were largely replaced by horses and much later by machinery. Now they are selected more for single or in some cases dual purposes.

The United States is the world's largest beef producer and second largest beef exporter, but significant imports of lower-valued processing beef also make it the world's largest beef importer.

Milk has a farm value of production second only to beef among livestock industries. Dairy farms, which are overwhelmingly family-owned and managed, are generally members of producer cooperatives. Dairy products range from cheese, fluid milks, yogurt, butter, and ice cream to dry or condensed milk and whey products, which are main ingredients in processed foods.