what is domestic animals

10 months ago 24
Nature

Domestic animals are vertebrate animals, including birds and mammals, that have been selectively bred and genetically adapted over generations to live alongside humans. They are kept by humans for various purposes such as work, food, or companionship. Some of the most commonly domesticated animals include cats, dogs, livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats), and beasts of burden (horses, camels, donkeys) . Domestication is a gradual process, and there is no precise moment when a species can be considered fully domesticated. The domestication of animals is a coevolutionary process in which a population responds to selective pressure while adapting to a novel niche that includes another species with evolving behaviors. Domestic animals are genetically determined to be tolerant of humans, which distinguishes them from wild animals. The process of domestication began before recorded history, and the ancestors of domesticated animals must have exhibited traits that made them useful to humans. The term "domestic animal" refers to various animals, such as horses or sheep, that have been domesticated to live and breed in a tame condition.