* Companionship: Pets like dogs, cats, and birds provide emotional support and companionship.
* Food: Animals like cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep are raised for their meat, milk, eggs, and wool.
* Work: Animals like horses, donkeys, and llamas are used for transportation, labor, and guarding.
* Other purposes: Certain animals, like bees, are used for pollination and honey production, while others like silkworms are raised for their silk.
Here are some key characteristics of domestic animals:
* Adaptation to human environments: They have adapted to living in close proximity to humans and often require human care for survival.
* Behavioral modifications: They often exhibit behavioral changes, such as being more docile and tolerant of human interaction.
* Dependence on humans: They rely on humans for food, shelter, and protection.
* Selective breeding: They have been bred specifically for desired traits like temperament, size, or productivity.
It's important to distinguish domestic animals from wild animals. Wild animals live independently of humans and haven't been selectively bred. While there may be some overlap in species (like cats), the key difference is their relationship with humans.