 The choice to eat animal products is a complex one. While our ancestors depended on animal source foods for vital nutrients, modern diets can provide essential nutrition through plant-based ingredients alone. And yet, globally, average meat consumption per person is higher than ever before. This upsurge has raised serious concerns over the impact of animal-based foods on global sustainability. Now, a special issue of the journal Animal has brought together seven articles examining various aspects of livestock production to provide an evidence-driven starting point for sustainable practice. The special issue stems from the 2016 conference on Steps to Sustainable Livestock, organized by the Global Farm Platform Initiative. The GFP comprises 15 model farms in 11 countries. Although each facility is distinct, they hold a shared mission to understand the environmental impact of different agricultural practices across varied climates and ecosystems, while also assessing the ability to meet global food requirements. One area of research focuses on the link between livestock and human health. A large proportion of human disease originates from or is otherwise linked to livestock disease. One article proposes a classification system for this relationship that can help prioritize, identify, and deliver appropriate health interventions. Another examines how consumption of meat and milk can help humans maintain a healthy diet at different life stages. The issue also explores the importance of ruminant animals in turning otherwise indigestible plant material into high-quality food. Three articles explore feeding strategies for ruminants, including the use of insects to decrease the use of cereal grains as a feed source. The final subject examined is the trade-offs that arise when looking at different ways to minimize the environmental impact of livestock production. One article uses mathematical modeling to explore ways of enhancing phosphorus recycling, while another focuses on the potential of a farm platform, an actual farm equipped with high-tech instruments to measure water flow and nutrient distribution to identify metrics that can serve as surrogates for environmental health. Although seven papers can't address all the ways to improve the societal and environmental sustainability of livestock production, the collection provides a solid foundation to help guide the continued evolution of best practices that help address societal concerns about livestock production.