Food:
* Meat: Domesticated animals provided a reliable source of protein, particularly in areas where hunting wild animals was difficult or unreliable.
* Milk and dairy products: Cows, goats, sheep, and other animals provided milk, which could be consumed directly or processed into cheese, yogurt, and other products.
* Eggs: Chickens, ducks, geese, and other poultry provided eggs, a valuable source of protein and nutrients.
Clothing and other materials:
* Fiber: Sheep, goats, and llamas provided wool for clothing, blankets, and other textiles.
* Leather and hides: Animals provided leather for clothing, shoes, belts, and other items.
* Furs and skins: Animals provided fur and skins for warmth and protection.
Transportation:
* Horses: Used for riding, pulling carts and wagons, and warfare.
* Donkeys and mules: Used for carrying loads and pulling plows.
* Camels: Used for transportation in desert regions.
Labor:
* Oxen and water buffalo: Used for plowing fields, hauling carts, and other tasks requiring heavy labor.
* Dogs: Used for herding livestock, guarding property, and hunting.
* Cats: Used for pest control.
Companionship and emotional support:
* Dogs: Bred for companionship, hunting, and protection.
* Cats: Bred for companionship and pest control.
Other benefits:
* Manure: Used as fertilizer for crops.
* Bones: Used for tools and other objects.
* Religious and symbolic value: Some animals held special religious or cultural significance.
The specific uses of domesticated animals varied depending on the culture, geography, and historical period. However, these are some of the key ways in which people relied on domesticated animals to sustain themselves and improve their lives.