Part of the domestic animals ( farm animals ) bring direct material benefit to man, for example, are a source of food ( milk , meat ), materials ( wool , leather ). Other animals (cattle, working and service animals ) benefit the person performing the job functions (transportation of goods, protection, etc.).
The second largest category - it's companion animal , which occupy leisure time, give pleasure and with whom you can communicate. For urban residents the concept of "pets" often associated with the second category, that is, with pets (pets). Many families who keep the house which some animals indicate that these animals are cozy, calm, relieve stress .
Keep in mind that the animals of the same species can often be used for different purposes. For example, some breeds of rabbits for the preparation of meat and fur, and someone keeps a rabbit as a house pet. Some wastes animal companion can be used as a minor production of raw materials. Thus, from the long-haired dogs and cats , or rabbits , you can collect a certain amount of wool and used for the binding of warm clothing for themselves or family members. Feathers of domestic birds are used for decorative crafts and fine arts.
Pets can be kept in special rooms (barnyard, stables , dog kennel ), but can live and directly to the home of a man. Of those animals that live in the house, some contain cells , aquariums , terrariums , and other "houses", while others (such as cats , dogs , rabbits and even monkeys ) are allowed to move freely around the room.
Pets mainly feed on commercial feed created from specially selected ingredients. This is fodder for farm animals, cat or dog food. Data feed not only easy to use, but also provide the animal with all the necessary materials. But for a number of domestic animals, in particular the majority of amphibians and reptiles , such food does not fit. Their diet in the home should be as close to natural.
In addition to pets in the house can be both undesirable tenants - houses animals. They live in housing or housing about a man without invitation, without bringing any benefit and, at times bringing a lot of damage. This, for example, rats , mice , cockroaches , ants . Brownies animals come in a large group of commensal animals that live near human habitation.
Breeding in captivity
Pets are descended from wild animals living in the wild. Many wild animals can be tamed, especially at a young age, and even keep the house. Sometimes it happens that wild animals are easily tamed, but difficult to breed in captivity. But if you tame animals and breed, their offspring again to tame.
In contrast to the wild animals, domesticated or captive, domestic animals, usually easy to reproduce. In the case where such an easy propagation, it is desirable to fertility are referred to as positive qualities. Progeny pets do not need to tame - the characteristics that make the animal home, laid down in the genes and are inherited. This gene set was formed in the process of selection , which people carried out for centuries.
Number of pets - a relatively small, the total number of species in the animal world. Thus, there are more than two thousand species of mammals , and species of pets around 40. If the list of domestic animals to exclude the disputed representatives, such as beneficial insects ( bees , cochineal , two or three species of silkworm ) and two species of fish ( goldfish and carp , more in aquariums ), the kinds of
