The business of livestock farming is prominent in the Basque Country (Spain). The climate of this region is ideal for raising cattle and other livestock and is classified as Atlantic, or warm and rainy. The most common breeds of livestock raised in this region include beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. These animals are most often raised in mixed farms, or farms that contain a combination of these types of animals and not just one type exclusively.^[1] Although the number of livestock farms notably decreased between the years of 1999 and 2009, the number of animals raised on each remaining farm increased dramatically, as discussed in further detail below.^[2] In 2006, there were estimated to be about 19,000 Basque farms that involved the raising of livestock.^[3]

The preservation of domestic livestock breeds has become valued for a variety of reasons. One reason is that the existence of several distinct breeds could lead to economic opportunities in the future. Also, breed variations offer diversity in the physical and behavioral traits of the animals, inherently providing a basis for scientific study and representing part of the unique Basque wildlife. Furthermore, these physical and temperamental distinctions can be utilized in unique ways on the farm and in society; for example, Terreña cattle are built well for agrarian labor, whereas Monchina cattle, especially the females, are traditionally involved in bullfights.^[4]

There have been minor changes in the demographics of the people in charge of livestock operations during the 1990s and into the 2000s. The number of middle-aged bosses (aged 40–65 years old) increased by about 5%, while the number of young workers (aged less than 40 years old) decreased slightly by 3%. In addition, the number of women in charge increased by about 6%, meaning that by 2009 they made up about one third of all the heads of operation in the Basque Country.^[2]

Cattle are predominant producers of greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. In fact, more than one third of all of Spain's methane emissions come from livestock. These gases are released principally through the anaerobic decomposition of both manure and the feed that is given to the animals. Due to its affiliation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Spain is required to report these emission data every year to this organization so that the major sources of emissions can be determined and solutions for lowering the emissions can be agreed upon.^[8] Farmers are generally able to make good use of the natural food sources for livestock, supplementing this with farm resources when necessary. However, the system is not perfect and some inequalities still do exist between grazing areas; while certain places are overgrazed, others are hardly even touched. More studies need to be done to determine the most effective practices for using these lands in the livestock industry. During warmer times of the season, while dairy sheep and beef cattle are grazing together in mountain pastures, grass is harvested from prairies and is stored for later use during the winter, meaning that farmers can utilize natural local resources more efficiently throughout the entire year. Fences are not widely used to guide or contain livestock, so the natural countryside remains fairly untouched in that regard. This lack of physical barriers is generally unproblematic, although the potential utility of fences has been pointed out in cases in which non-agricultural social activities have crossed the boundaries of grazing land. Overall, the presence of grazing livestock in Basque prairies and mountains helps to keep the ecosystem in balance.^[1]