How Modern and Ancient Genomic Analyses Can Reveal Complex Domestic Histories Using Cattle as a Case Study

The domestication of animals was a key element in the transition of human societies from nomadic forager to sedentary agro-pastoralists. Much of what is known about the early stages of animal domestication has been uncovered via the scientific analysis of faunal remains and other ancient artefacts recovered from archaeological sites associated with early farming. Livestock management is an important source of livelihood for millions of people globally, particularly in the developing world. The mammalian and avian livestock species contributing to modern agriculture and food production have been shaped by a long history of domestication and continuous breeding. It is often posited that the domestic state is not a definitive category, but rather part of a continually evolving human-animal relationship ranging from hunting, through loose association, to the intense management of animals. Of the major five domestic species, cattle are the most economically important and, as said, number over 1,500 million on a worldwide scale, with some 800 extant cattle breeds.