Domestication

The beginning of human and animal interaction has been triggered by the progress of technology. Animals have been utilized for work, recreation, companionship as well as medical and scientific projects. Why are there so many different kinds of domesticated animal species suited for captivity? Many pets, such as different dog and livestock breeds, were bred to fulfill different purposes for human needs. The process of selective breeding of animals was at first unintentional and probably unobserved. For example, large, aggressive, and big-horned bulls were probably too dangerous to keep around and so did not survive to reproduce these characteristics. Thus, over time, early farmers unknowingly altered the genetic make-up of the life forms they most relied on.

According to Prof. Jared Diamond, must meet six criteria, in order to be considered for domestication: 1. Flexible diet (not too cumbersome or expensive)2. Grow up reasonably fast (see growth rate) 3. Be able to breed in captivity 4. Pleasant disposition 5. Unlikely to panic and 6. Modifiable social hierarchy (recognize a human as its leader).

Modifications of body size reflecting the uses to which the animal is put, loss of speed and agility, loss or decrease in size of horns or other natural weapons, biological specialization for human needs (e.g., wool production in sheep), are apparent over time. Smaller changes in disposition and intelligence occurred also. Some species of domestic animals could not survive now without human care and protection. Others, however, like the pig, can revert back easily to life in the wild. An even more fundamental reason for the presence of animals in Near Eastern agriculture, however, derives from the nutritional value of cereal grains. Humans need 12 amino acids to survive and reproduce. Cereal grains, however, supply adequate quantities of only two of the 12. Cereal diets must therefore be supplemented with protein from other sources.

Animal protein from meat or milk products is one way to create a sustaining diet based on cereals, and this was part of the answer in the Near East. Lentils and dry peas, chick peas (or garbanzos) eventually provided other good supplements found in ancient diets in the region. Another food source is visible in the background of the photo at top left: the date palm. The Greeks relied heavily on olives, both green and ripe, the Babylonians raised figs and dates. The Chinese, with a similar cereal economy, domesticated the protein-rich soy bean to supplement the grains in their diet (wheat, millet, rice). Humans also need many vitamins and at least trace amounts of many elements; these needs are met by including in the diet all sorts of edible plants such as onions, garlic, lentils, garbanzos, cabbage, turnips, fruits, and berries, etc.

A wholly distinctive and different agriculture grew up in the New World, in the Americas. Large domestic animals were conspicuously absent in these ancient economies. The explanation for the contrast with the Old World is not hard to find: their main food plants, corn, squash, and beans (add potatoes in South America) provide, if eaten together, all 12 of the necessary amino acids. The supplementary foods grown by early American farmers include tomatoes and peppers, which have spread all over the world since 1492. For example, the Near East, the cradle lands of both Western and Islamic civilizations, used animals almost from the beginning of settled life both for food and for labor. This was not accidental. The reasons for this cultural adaptation can be seen in terms of the special needs of Near Eastern cereal-growers: wheat and barley require elaborate (labor-intensive) preparation of the fields (seed beds) so that the grain will out-compete weeds. Using animals, (almost any large animal will do) to drag a scratch plow makes the job easier and quicker for humans. Near Eastern cereal-growers thus became livestock raisers. Human communities have been ingenious at finding ways to adapt to the limitations of the food sources available in their local community. Since they possess evolving cultures [and do not have to evolve biological features to meet new conditions], they may quickly adapt themselves and their way of life to take advantage of new opportunities or meet new challenges. Animals were of vital importance to prehistoric farmers. They provide assistance with farm work, clothing, protection, as well as food. Land management became easier and tasks quicker. The disadvantages were primarily to do with feeding the animals. The carnivores often hunted the same species as man, whilst the herbivores had to have food grown for them, this food would of taken up space that human crops were to be grown upon.

Pigs were a native species to Europe and the Near East. and it is thought to of descended from the wild boar. The wild pigs were larger than the domesticated species and the reasons for their size reduction is not known. Barker (1985) thinks that it is not due to selection by man. Pigs had several advantageous features. The entire animal is edible and their reproduction rate is extremely high. Coupling this with a pig's ability to eat practically anything, resulted in a adaptable animal that was easy to rear and look after.

Wild species of cattle were much larger than domesticated. This is probably due to natural selection of larger boned wild species, better adapted to survive in harsh conditions. Humans influence has altered this trend. Poor quality winter feed, restricted grazing lands and selective breeding all brought about a clear difference between wild and domestic species. Cattle were a prized species, able to provide: butter, milk, cream, and cheese whilst living. Their phenomenal power was utilized to plough fields and fertilization of the land was another added bonus. Once dead cattle provided large quantities of meat and their hides could be use for clothing. Thus cattle were a vital resource to prehistoric farmers.

Domesticated sheep and goats have a cloudy origin. They were first herded in the Near East. The advantages of sheep and goats is their hardiness. It is possible to keep the animals on very poor land with little grazing potential. They are able to survive out door at all times of the year and give birth naturally, without human assistance - although the survival rate was not high. The prehistoric sheep were smaller than today's sheep and were of poorer quality. Sheep provided wool for clothing, milk and cheese and also meat. Their hides could also be used once the animal had died. Goats offered the same advantages as sheep. Their hides were especially valued due to their tough-wearing properties.

Other animals that were used in prehistoric farming included horses, donkeys, dogs and red deer. Horses were smaller than the ones today and were used primarily for transport, i.e. pulling carts and riding. They were occasionally