Question

It is argued that “the trajectory, from wild prey to game management, to herd management, to directed breeding, may not have been guided by a desire to completely control the animals’ life history but instead to increase the supply of a vanishing resource”. Evaluate that statement in the context of how sheep became livestock.

Answer 1

Ans: Archeological data suggests that the sheep was the most preferred choice for the domestication.

Why sheep was the choice?

• They are less aggressive
• They mature early and their reproduction rate is high
• Give high amount of milk, meat

Initially human domesticated sheep to increase the supply of vanishing resources so they did tranjectory from game management to herd management. In other words they managed the hunting and started domestication of sheep. while doing so they did directed breeding in which they preferred female over the male this may be because of the reproduction capacity of female. they may used male for farming and meat.

so by game management they could use them for farming and other purposes.

from above explanation it is clear that the desire was to increase vanishing resources and not to control their life history.