For the Romans, too, keeping animals was of basic economic and social importance. Under their rule, stockbreeding was intensified and expanded throughout the empire, so that new domestic animals were also introduced north of the Alps, including donkeys, mules, peacocks, pheasants and cats. Moreover, stronger draught cattle and larger horses were bred, and poultry keeping was intensified. At the same time, however, as has been shown especially for pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and geese, suitable local breeds were retained in the conquered areas.

The Romans exploited animals not only for their economic but particularly also for their entertainment value. Animal parks and game enclosures (theriotropheia) had already been known under such Hellenistic rulers as Ptolemy II of Egypt (285–246 bc) in Alexandria (Strab. 3.36.3–4; Athen. 5.201b–c). Since the second century bc, animal enclosures (leporaria, vivaria), aviaries and fish ponds (piscinae) were also maintained on the estates of the Roman upper class. Deer and wild boar, goats and sheep were used both for purposes of show and representation, and for the hunt and food.