Predictable food supply: Herder animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep reproduce regularly and provide a relatively consistent supply of meat, milk, and other animal products. This allows herders to plan and manage their food resources more effectively compared to relying on hunting, which is subject to the availability and success of the hunt.
Control over breeding and genetics: Herders can selectively breed their animals for desired traits such as meat quality, milk production, or resistance to diseases. This allows them to improve the overall quality and productivity of their herds. In contrast, hunters have no control over the genetics or traits of the animals they hunt.
Efficient use of resources: Herding allows for more efficient use of resources such as land and water. Herders can manage the grazing of their animals to prevent overgrazing and maintain the health of their pastures. They can also collect and store manure as fertilizer, which improves soil quality and crop yields. Hunting, on the other hand, requires vast areas of land and is less efficient in terms of resource utilization.
Reduced risk of disease transmission: Herding animals can be vaccinated and monitored for diseases, which reduces the risk of disease transmission to humans. In contrast, hunting wild animals can increase the risk of exposure to diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, known as zoonotic diseases.
Social and cultural significance: Herding animals has significant social and cultural importance in many communities. It is often tied to traditional practices, livelihoods, and cultural identity. Many herding communities have developed intricate knowledge and expertise in managing and caring for their animals, passing on this knowledge from generation to generation.
While herding animals provides a more reliable and sustainable source of food compared to hunting, it also requires significant investment, infrastructure, and management expertise. Both hunting and herding have played crucial roles in human societies throughout history, but the relative importance of each has varied depending on the environmental, cultural, and economic contexts.