Why do people across the world mostly only eat a few of the same types of meat (like chicken, beef, pork) when there are thousands of other animals to choose from?

Question

Why do people across the world mostly only eat a few of the same types of meat (like chicken, beef, pork) when there are thousands of other animals to choose from?

In: 667

Answer 1

Cheap and plentiful meat comes from domesticated animals. Chickens, in particular, are small, cheap to feed, can be housed in simple sheds where they are sheltered from the climate, and grow quickly, making them especially easy to raise for food.

However, there are a few other animals that have been domesticated that have regional appeal. It depends a lot on geography. At one time agriculture was less sophisticated and you needed to raise animals that thrived in your area / climate. The recipes and traditional included food, and even when it becomes possible to add a new species into the mix, there’s no point because there’s not a market for it.