Domestication and Breeding of Animals

The same processes worked for animals like...

Domesticated and Bred Pigeons

•All Breeds came from a single original species•

Domestication of an animal is defined as: an animal selectively bred in captivity and thereby modified from its wild ancestor, for use by humans who control the animals breeding and food supply.

What traits were humans looking for in animals?

Source of food,milk products, fertilizer, land transport, leather, military assault vehicles, plow traction, and wool.

The big mammals provide most of these traits.

The 5 major mammals domesticated were:

Sheep From Asiatic Mouflon sheep

The Goat from the Bezoar goat

The Cow from the now extinct Auroch

The Pig from the wild boar

The Horse from the now extinct wild horses of Russia,. Related to the Przewalski’s horse

What do you think are the other main animals domesticated by man?•Arabian Camel

•Bactrian Camel

•Llama and Alpaca

•Donkey

•Reindeer

•Water Buffalo

•Yak

•Bali Cattle

Why was eurasian horses domesticated and not African Zebras?

• Diet

Herbivores are more efficient in terms of energy conservation

It takes less energy to farm a herbivore than a carnivore

Breeding problems

• Some animals will not have sex in captivity

For example Cheetahs have a courtship in which the female is chased by the male for three days.This is not possible in captivity

Cheetahs have never been domesticated

Nasty Disposition

• Some animals are just plain nasty

The Grizzly bear, African Buffalo, and Zebra to name a few

Tendency to Panic

• Some animals are nervous and programmed for fast flight if they sense danger

E.g. Deer and antelope

• Some animals are slower, less nervous and will seek protection in herds if attacked.

E.g. Sheep and goats

Social Structure (part 1)

• Some animals live in herds, have a dominance hierarchy established, and have overlapping home ranges

This allows the human to take over the role of dominance. The animals imprint on humans

Social Structure (part 2)

• Solitary, territorial animals that don’t like herds won’t imprint on humans.

E.g. Cats

• Some animals are territorial during breeding seasons, when they fight and don’t tolerate each other

E.g. Deer

Social Structure (part 3)• Some animals lack a well defined

dominance hierarchy

E.g Bighorn sheep

Growth Rate

• For an animal to be of benefit to humans it needs to grow fast.

E.g. Cows, sheep

• Animals like elephants grow to slowly to be of use.