Objective To study the role of controlling livestock infection in management of infected Oncomelania hupensis outside embankment in the schistosomiasis endemic areas (lakes and marshlands) and to provide a reference for control strategy and measures. Methods Twenty-one schistosomiasis endemic villages were selected from 15 towns in the 3 typical lake and marshland areas in Hunan and Hubei provinces. The infection of O. hupensis outside embankment was investigated before and after controlling the source of livestock infection, and the control effect was evaluated. Logistic stepwise regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between positive rate of O. hupensis and related impact factors. Results From 2009 to 2011, 4077 domestic animals from 564 households and 10 624.51 hm2 of habitats for O. hupensis, including 14 sites (130.73 hm2) polluted by littered stool of livestock were investigated. The analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the positive rate of O. hupensis and the infection rate of livestock (r＝0.832, P＜0.01) and positive rate of littered stool (r＝0.903, P＜0.01). The infection (positive) rates of livestock, O. hupensis and littered stool decreased by 74.90%, 92.42% and 84.51%, respectively, after controlling the source of livestock infection. Conclusion Appropriate integrated control measures based on controlling the source of livestock infection can play an important role in controlling infected O. hupensis outside embankment.