Domestication: Cattle

Question 1

Where are the domestic cattle descended from?

Answer 1

Descended from the wild-ox or Aurochs (Bos primigenius)

Question 2

What are the two species of domestic cattle?

Answer 2

1) Taurine cattle (Bos taurus)

2) Zebu (Bos indicus)

Question 3

General Information on cattle evolution

Answer 3

Colder climate let to more open grassland and evolution of grazers (5.3-2.6mya)
- Reached Europ 270,000ya

Question 4

What are the three subspecies of Aurochs

Answer 4

1) Indian Aurochs
2) Eurasian Aurochs
3) North African Aurochs

Question 5

Indian Aurochs

Answer 5

Bos primigenius namadicus
~2mya
Domesticated to give rise to Zebu cattle

Question 6

Eurasian Aurochs

Answer 6

Bos primigenius primigenius

• Only Eurasian subspecies survived until recent times
• domesticated into modern cattle Taurine breeds ~8000ya

Question 7

North African Aurochs

Answer 7

Bos primigenius africanus
Descended from Eurasian Aurochs 
Legs were longer/slender
Skull larger/elongated 
Bulls: Large neck/shoulder for large horns

Question 8

How many domestication events occurred for cattle?

Answer 8

1) Indian Aurochs

2) Eurasian Aurochs

Question 9

Indian auroch domestication

Answer 9

Zebu cattle

Domesticated ~9000 years ago

Question 10

Eurasian aurochs domestication

Answer 10

Taurine cattle
Domesticated ~8000 years ago
- Turkey and Iraq

Question 11

Domestication phenotype of Zebu cattle

Answer 11

Hump on back (fat) and droopy ears

- Domesticated because hardier and withstand heat, drought, and low feed availability

Question 12

Domestication phenotype of Taurine cattle

Answer 12

Flat back and more upright ears

• Dont need to be as tough because of pasture availability
• Interbred with local cattle
• led to selection for dairy and meat production

Question 13

Which ancestral cattle were selectively bred to produce dairy and meat cattle?

Answer 13

Taurine cattle were artificially selected to produce better dairy and meat herds

Question 14

What was the reason for Indicine cattle to spread throughout India (3)

Answer 14

1) Tolerant of heat and humidity
2) Increased tolerance of parasites/disease
3) Beef (and milk)

Question 15

What was the first livestock species to be domesticated?

Answer 15

Sheep (and goats)
Multiple domestication events
- were used by Ancient egyptians ~8000ya
Initially for meat

Question 16

What are the 5 reasons for the domestication of goats over cattle?

Answer 16

1) Relative lack of aggression
2) Manageable size
3) Early sexual maturity
4) Social nature
5) High reproduction rates

Question 17

Sheep Mulesing

Answer 17

Very contentious

• Skin cut away from breech area (deep enough to cut out follicles)
• soilage of faeces and urine if not done
• prevention of flystrike