Which type of society is largely engaged in herding cows, goats, and sheep?

The choice indicating that the correct answer is pastoral societies is accurate because these societies are specifically characterized by their reliance on the herding and raising of livestock such as cows, goats, and sheep. Pastoral societies are primarily nomadic or semi-nomadic, meaning that they often move with their herds to find fresh pastures and water sources, which significantly influences their social structure, lifestyle, and economic practices.

In pastoral societies, the animals are not just a source of food but are integral to their culture, economy, and even social status. These societies typically occupy areas where traditional agriculture may be less viable due to environmental conditions.

In contrast, agricultural societies focus on cultivating crops and may include a broad variety of farming practices but do not primarily depend on herded animals. Foraging societies are based on hunting and gathering wild plants and animals rather than domestication, which is distinctly different from the practices of pastoralists. Horticultural societies engage in small-scale farming and gardening but again do not center their way of life around herding animals. Each of these other societal types does not share the core characteristic of herding livestock that defines pastoral societies.