Abstract Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) include embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of an embryo, epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs), embryonic germ cells (EGCs) from primordial germ cells (PGCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These cells have unlimited developmental potentiality which can give rise to all cell types of body. Thus, these cells provide an efficient route to promote the study of developmental biology, establish animal models for human genetic diseases, obtain organs for xenotransplantation and generate high quality and disease-resistant new breeds. Up to date, most studies on PSCs were mouse (Mus musculus) and human. While, the ESCs and subsequently iPSCs of livestock also are undergoing effective development, which was not only used for keeping and promotion inherent selected quality of special livestock, but also production of chemical drugs and antibodies from livestock, even preclinical association of human diseases, because there were less limitations of organ physiology and immune systems in livestock than mouse, which may block research. However, the isolation and enrichment of livestock ESCs were difficult, so as the cell line establishment in vitro. As the persistent explore of livestock ESCs and iPSCs, they have become an innovation research field in life science and high-tech agriculture and biology. In this article, we review the progress and application of livestock PSCs.
