animal domestication and areas of care and production

Animal Domestication andAreas of Care and Production

ARE ANIMALS thriving in nature different from

those living as household pets? In terms of

species, perhaps; but animals, whether they live in

the wild or in a household, generally have the same

needs—food, shelter, health care, reproduction, and

protection. A major difference between wild and

domesticated animals is who initiates these things.

Explore this E-unit and discover how the role of

humans has changed as animals have been domes-

ticated.

Objectives:

� 1. Explain animal domestication.

2. Describe the importance of domesti-cation in animal care and produc-tion.

Key Terms:

�

Animal Domestication

Today, many animals are domesticated. However, hundreds of years ago, that was not the

case. For centuries, humans were a hunting-and-gathering society, meaning that most animals

were wild. Men would hunt animals for meat and eggs, and women would gather food like

berries and herbs from wild plants. Soon, a process of animal domestication emerged. Animal

domestication is the removing of animals from wild settings and raising them in controlled

E-unit: Animal Domestication and Areas of Care and Production

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animal domestication

animal environment

animal health

animal nutrition

animal reproduction

animal selection

animal well-being

feral animal

wildlife

(Courtesy, Agricultural Research Service, USDA)

environments. This changed the way of life for both animals and humans. Animals soon

started to depend on humans for their needs. Moreover, humans soon adapted by discovering

that they could have gardens and raise animals near their houses. Humans found domestica-

tion an easier way of life because it lacked the hunting in the wild. They found that tending to

the animals near them was less work and more efficient.

Domestication usually applies

to all animals in a specific species.

Animals not domesticated are

known as wildlife. An animal

that was once domesticated but

has been returned to the wild is

identified as a feral animal.

Examples of feral animals might

be dogs, boars, or horses.

With domestication came new

uses for animals; humans found

animals valuable for more than

just meat and eggs. They estab-

lished animals as labor sources for

pulling loads and as companions.

Domestication continues today, as

it expands to include new species,

like alligators, elk, and bison.

Important Areas ofAnimal Care and Production

With the era of animal domestication, several animal care and production needs surfaced.

Soon it became evident that the needs of animals differ depending on their species. Producers

began to observe the conditions for optimal growth of animals and used this information to

promote animal well-being. Animal well-being is the state in which animals’ needs are met

and the animals do not suffer. It is achieved by maintaining the health of animals, such as

through proper feed and water. In addition, animal owners should take steps to keep animals

from situations that threaten their well-being. For example, a small-animal owner should not

leave a pet locked outdoors in a pen without water on a hot day.

To produce and care for animals successfully, one must ensure high-quality management in

the areas of proper selection, nutrition, health, reproduction, and environment.

The first area of management in animal production is animal selection. Animal selection

is the choosing of animals to achieve desired goals. This includes the selection of animals for

specific traits and of animals adapted to the situation in which they will be raised. Profitability

for commercial animal producers requires the production of quality animals.


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FIGURE 1. Bison have been domesticated to add a leaner red meat to the

choices of consumers. (Courtesy, Agricultural Research Service, USDA)

Animal nutrition is the area of animal care and management that focuses on the kind and

amount of feed and water an animal needs and how the animal converts nutrients to value or

high-quality human food. All animals need nutrition, but the food they eat varies depending

on their species, age, and condition. For instance, a cow can consume corn feed and forages,

like hay and grasses, whereas a hen generally consumes corn and soybean meal. The quality of

the animals produced is greatly affected by the types of feed given to the animals.

Another area important to animal care and management is animal health. This area cen-

ters around the condition in which an animal is free of disease and all its body systems are

functioning properly. Along with good nutrition, a vaccination program and a health-promot-

ing regiment are beneficial to animal production. A regular vaccination program ensures the

prevention of diseases that might be difficult to eradicate with treatment.

Animal reproduction is the area of animal care and management that focuses on the pro-

cess by which animals are reproduced. Understanding the reproductive process of a species is

essential for successful animal production. An example of managing animal reproduction

might be a producer’s taking steps to get a mare to foal at a specific time, thus assuring sale of

the offspring at maturity. Another might be a pet owner’s having an animal spayed to eliminate

the process of reproduction in the household.

The last area of animal care and management is animal environment, which deals with

the surroundings of an animal. A positive environment is necessary for animal growth and sur-

vival. Some animals are well adapted to a natural weather environment, while other animals

need shelter and protection. An animal environment also includes the conditions involved in


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ON THE JOB…

CAREER CONNECTION:

Veterinarian

With the influx of domestication, careers in veterinary

medicine have increased in value. Veterinarians are profes-

sionals trained in the methods of preventing disease and

treating illnesses and other health problems. In addition,

they often have assistants who provide help in surgeries,

preparation work, and lab tests. A veterinarian is required to

have a bachelor’s degree in an area of animal science and

must have graduated from a higher-education veterinary

medicine program. Also, many veterinarians have completed

practical fieldwork to ensure a good background of experi-

ences with all animals and a variety of situations. These

professionals specialize in areas such as small-animal or

large-animal care.

HEL

PW

ANTE

D

Veterinarians aid in the rehabilitation

of sick or injured animals. (Courtesy,

Agricultural Research Service, USDA)

hauling, handling, penning, and other situations in which animals may be placed as part of

their production. For instance, when a ewe is lambing, providing a dry pen with water and a

heat lamp for warmth is necessary.

Summary:

� In today’s society, animal domestication has had a major impact on how animals liveand grow and how they affect the lives of humans. With the emergence of domesti-cation, we depend on animal products more than ever to ensure our everyday life-style. In addition, the process of domestication revealed that for the first time, ani-mals needed humans to care for and manage their basic needs. To survive, animalsneed care and management in the areas of selection, nutrition, health, reproduction,and environment.

Checking Your Knowledge:

� 1. What do we call the process of removing animals from the wild and raisingthem in controlled environments?

2. What is a feral animal?

3. What are the five areas of care and management that animals need?

Expanding Your Knowledge:

� Through the World Wide Web, investigate a variety of species of animals. Select onespecies and prepare a report on its domestication in the United States. What factorscontributed to the domestication of this species? Do you see problems with thedomestication of this species today? How have humans become responsible for thisspecies’ care and management?

Web Links:

� How Feral Cats Impact Other Wildlife

http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/speaker3.html

Domestication of Animals

http://ladywildlife.com/animal/domesticationofanimals.html

Wildlife Conservation Society

http://www.wcs.org/kids/map/index.html


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