A review of the international literature was carried out, in order to describe how researchers study links between livestock farming and local development (i.e. 'territory'). We highlight three different sets of approaches: the first focused on relations between livestock farming systems and natural resources through landscape / spatial analyses. Secondly, livestock farming systems are analysed through the diversity of the farming systems existing within a territory. The third set of approaches considers livestock farming systems as technical systems structured around human groups. Finally, some publications combine two or three sets of approaches. The combination of these three approaches is useful in a landscape and territorial perspective.