World Ark Magazine - March/April 2009 - (Page 6) for the record Facts & Figures farm animals Early humans quickly realized that it would be easier to tend a few docile animals than hunt wild ones, and so began the centuries-long process of domestication. This resulted in thousands of different breeds, each selected to fit a specific locale. But with the homogenizing force of modern factory farms and extinction of many domesticated subspecies, we are losing not only local breeds but also the genetic diversity that ensures healthy herds in the future. 10,000 years ago Goats were first domesticated in the Zagros Mountains of what is now western Iran, new evidence suggests. Sheep were also first domesticated in this area around the same time. animal husBandry Is the care, breeding and managing of domesticated animals, especially livestock. 1,491 of the 7,616 domesticated breeds in the world, or 20 percent, are now at risk of extinction, according to a recent u.N. Food and agriculture organization report. Nine percent are already extinct. diverse Beginnings there is now genetic evidence that, in addition to being domesticated in the caucasus area, cattle were also separately domesticated in both africa and the Indian subcontinent. the holstein-friesian Is the most widespread breed of cow, now found in more than 125 countries. draining the gene pool large-scale animal operations are homogeneous, favoring just a few breeds. Not only does this mean a decline in the overall genetic diversity of the species, but there is also a loss of genetic diversity within the favored breeds. the others Some other animals that have been domesticated: guinea pigs, reindeer, honeybees, turkeys, alpacas, bison, peacocks, ostriches, silkworms, snails, camels, yaks and water buffalo. rememBer the aurochs the European cattle breeds most widely used for dairy and meat production are descended from the aurochs, a wild ox that stood 6 feet tall and had menacing long horns. the last aurochs died in Poland in 1627. 6 m arch / ap r i l 2 0 09 | world ark www.he i f e r .o r g http://www.heifer.org
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