FAO published its first global livestock distribution maps in 2007: the Gridded Livestock of the World (GLW). GLW is now in its fourth version and is a peer-reviewed spatial dataset on the global distribution and abundance of livestock species. These data find applications in the fields of food and nutrition security; livelihoods and economic growth; human and animal health and welfare; and natural resources and environment. 

In 2024 FAO released the new GLW dataset that is aligned with FAOSTAT data for the year 2020.