The first in a series of questions on building a realistic sedentary centaur culture.
From what I have encountered, centaur civilizations are usually modeled on (semi)nomadic cultures from the Eurasian steppes or the North American plains.
In contrast, the centaurs in my world have developed a sedentary civilization, complete with farms, villages, and large cities. This question is aimed at figuring out which animals you would find in these centaur communities.
Now, I am aware that domestication is a long and difficult process, and demands a lot from the animal one is looking to domesticate. For the context of this question, assume that this is not an issue.
This is my view on the why of humans domesticating animals:
Humans have domesticated a variety of animals for different purposes, each species providing us with something we need, or helping us accomplish something in an easier way. These needs are dictated by our bodies.
On to the centaurs. The humanoid torso part of the centaur is the same size as your average human torso, with the equine parts sized to match. Strength-wise, the equine parts are comparable to horses, and the humanoid parts are comparable to humans. Intelligence is equal to humans. Assume a diet comparable to humans: omnivorous, with a preference for cooked food.
The title question can be separated into two parts:
- What animals would centaurs domesticate that humans have not, and why?
- What animals that humans have domesticated would centaurs leave undomesticated?
As to where you may look for animals to domesticate, all biomes are fair game, from fertile, open plains to dense rain forest, to deserts (both hot and cold), mountains and lowlands, arctic, anything. These centaurs live anywhere humans can.
These needs are dictated by our bodies
They are? Frankly, to avoid closure as POB, you should explain why you think centaurs wouldn't domesticate the very same creatures: cows, chickens, dogs, cats, horses (beasts of burden), etc. Why don't centaurs have the same needs as bipeds (companionship, mousing, protection, carrying burdens, BBQ, etc.)? $\endgroup$