Domestication of animals

Domestication is an extremely complicated process. Domestication can be defined as a process by which a population of animals becomes adapted to man and to the environment controlled by humans.

It is achieved through some combination of genetic changes occurring over generations and environmentally induced developmental event recurring during each generation.

Humans needed no only to feed and breed their animals and to confine them to prevent their escape, but also to protect them against predators, diseases and climatic vagaries.

The biological process of domestication begins when a small number of animals are separated from the wild species and become habituated to humans.

In order to be domesticated animals have to be incorporated into the social structure of human community and become objects of ownership, inheritance, purchase, and exchange.

There is no doubt that the purpose of earliest domestication was to secure animal protein reserve for the human population that the domesticated animals served as living food conserves.

Many species have been domesticated to benefit mankind. Food, milk, leather, fiber, work, research and recreation are the primary reasons animals are maintained in captivity.

Animal manure could serve to fertile crops. Larger animals could also assist in the performance of laborious tasks and in transportation.
Domestication of animals