Which term describes a commercial agriculture practice in which livestock graze over a broad area?

• A. Ranching
• B. Market gardening
• C. Mixed crop and livestock farming
• D. Plantation agriculture

Answer: (A)

Ranching is the type of commercial agriculture focused on grazing livestock across large, often open ranges. It relies on extensive land use rather than crop cultivation, with animals like cattle or sheep moving across broad areas to graze and be sold for meat or other products. This contrasts with market gardening, which is small-scale, intensive vegetable farming near cities; mixed crop and livestock farming, which combines crops and animals on the same farm without necessarily grazing over vast areas; and plantation agriculture, which grows cash crops on large estates for export rather than grazing livestock. Classic examples include cattle ranching in the plains and rangelands of North America or the Pampas of Argentina.