The environment has been under great pressure as a consequence of the livestock waste discharged in the course of intensive production of livestock and poultry farming. By studying the elemental theory of respiratory metabolism, comprised of small molecule acid metabolism of Geobacter sulfurreducens, the aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of Shewanella oneidensis, as well as extracellular electron transfer directly contacted and mediated by electrically conductive pili and electron shuttle substances, the central carbon metabolism pathway, basic extracellular electron transport process and main regulatory mechanisms of model electroactive microorganisms were examined. Owing to insights into the respiration and metabolism of electroactive bacteria, a variety of microbial electrochemical systems (MES) mainly based on microbial fuel cell, microbial electrolytic cell and electric-field-assisted aerobic compost had been developed and optimized. Not only MES were employed to reduce contents of hazardous substances including chemical oxygen demand, greenhouse gases, antibiotics and resistance genes, but they were also used to improve power generation efficiency, cathode high value-added products and humus contents of compost. The research progress of microbial electrochemical theory and thoroughly demonstrates the application of microbial electrochemical technology in the recycling of livestock and poultry waste were reviewed, so as to provide reference and theoretical foundation for the study of livestock waste utilization.