The donkey | Facts & Information

Where it lives( living environment): arid forests and deserts

Predators (those who hunt/eat this animal): wolves, lions

Today's donkey (Equus africanus asinus) is the wild donkey of Africa, with three known subspecies: the Atlantic, Nubian and Somali. Domestication happened about 4-6 thousand years ago. During the domestication period, the donkey did not play a significant role in history, as it did in the case of other large domestic animal species, such as the horse.

Its existence was decisive in the development of human civilization, while the donkey had neither the speed nor the power to help it compete with the majestic stallion. Therefore, the donkey was very common in less developed areas, poorer and through major trade routes, being of great help in carrying luggage.

Today's donkeys from the Carpathian Basin have already lived there for many centuries, but no one has actually taken care of their breeding.

At the beginning of the twentieth century there were some initiatives to create cultures within the noble domains, but by this time they have completely disappeared. On the territory of Hungary, in 2003 the Hungarian society of Donkey Breeders was founded, which aims to register the 4-5 thousand existing animals and to try breeding the breed called Donkey Parloaga/Ses.

The purpose of their growth would be the formation of a septel with a well-proportioned stature, reliable appearance, gentle, with good behavior, prone to work. It will have to bear the optimal characteristics of the species such as: resistance to environmental factors (weather, nutrition, diseases), to be unpretentious, to have strength and high working capacity compared to stature, but also to have a long active period in the field of work (20-25 years).

Donkey Feed

The donkey is modest. Looking at how to grow, the donkey is modest, it also feeds on low-quality plants, grasses and weeds that horses do not consume. He has no claim to shelter, and accepts a more humble edifice. However, it hardly tolerates cold, wind and moisture, cools more easily than the horses with which it shelters.

Donkeys like a lot of food from various herbs, from a mixture of fodder plants. Often they also graze stinging plants that the horse gives up. It does not mean that it is content with any kind of weed. Moldy and foul food is as harmful as any other animal. In the menu or alfalfa is considered a dessert, but also a piece of corn can make him happy.

She doesn't really eat carrots, instead she loves dry bread! For feeding are optimal cereals of any kind, but you must also consider the quality of feed from pastures. You need to continuously monitor your health, over - or malnutrition is not desirable.

So it is enough if you can offer them varied food products. To complete the menu, you can add salt blocks and, if necessary, feed limestone. Water has the same needs as any other domestic animal.

Donkey Appearance

Donkeys can be grouped according to weight, having the following characteristics:

Donkeys of small size

... have fine bones, thin skin, soft hair. The head is small, the skull is wide, the nose area is short and fine. The profile line of the head is usually straight, the head often has the deltoid shape, rarely gets too fine lines, hence the name "Pike head". The ears are relatively small and mobile. The neck is short and very muscular, the trunk slightly Narrows, and the croup often has weak musculature. Temperament is brisk, donkeys are unpretentious and extremely hardy.

Donkey of medium stature.

The bones of medium-sized donkeys are hard, their body is strong and very muscular. The cranial and snout part is well proportioned, the skull line is simple or semiberbec, as is the profile of the nasal bridge, the so-called Sheep's head profile being quite common. Ears are mobile, medium in size. Their temperament is brisk, they are unpretentious and very good labor.

Donkey of great stature.

The bones of large individuals are more robust, sometimes spongy, the skin is thick, the head large, the shape often similar to that of the RAM, with large ears and less mobile. The structure of the body is without cohesion, they often have disproportionate body, and the neck musculature is weak.

The hoof is often made of poor quality horny material. Large donkeys have a phlegmatic temperament, are picky and get to food more difficult than relatives of smaller stature. In summer, in high heat, they often have wounds on their skin, sometimes eczema. Too large donkeys with a rough Constitution and phlegmatic temperament are generally not popular.

Donkey Features

The advantageous characteristics of the donkey are: bright, expressive look, straight ears worn on a dry head, well-tucked neck, long and straight back, tight entrails, slightly inclined and short croup, muscular back, which allows optimal fixation of the harness, arched chest, strong and robust legs with bulky joints, hard hooves. The ratio of certain parts of the body confirms the harmonious appearance of the donkey.

The most common colors are different shades of pale, such as brown, dark brown and black, but also can be found variants sprinkled with white threads, which with age pale to gray shade. The cross on the back is characteristic of the species, and its color always has a lighter shade. Often a bright ring appears around the eyes (ocula), around the mouth, on the nose, on the belly. Those who have open belly hair have the same between their legs, and in frequent cases we find black coloratura in the lower part of the calves.

Transverse stripes (zebroids) on the limbs also frequently appear. As a spontaneous mutation sometimes Isabella (white) colored donkeys are born. They are generally more demanding to environmental factors, for example, they are more sensitive to sunlight than specimens that have pigmented background skin. However, for hobbies, white donkey, may be preferable in some cases, and it is a pity to be neglected only because of the unusual color.

Compared to the" shoes " of the horse, the donkey's hooves are steeper, with harder horny material, prone to narrowing. In the absence of regular care for the hooves, they become much easier steep, dry, narrowed, which greatly affects the usefulness of the animal. This is why he gets tired faster, both in front of the cart and in other situations.

The donkey is not stubborn!

The donkey is easily integrated in the household, it can be easily associated with other animal species: horses, goats, sheep, etc.if you keep many species together, the stables or pens must be spacious enough. It grows relatively slowly, full development is at the age of 5-6 years, but with good growth,already at the age of 2-2.5 years it can easily climb, catch in front of carts or even multiply. In training it is advisable not to use harsh gestures and not to immediately expect a quick success. If during the care you observe the above, the donkey will work with good will. He doesn't need batting, despite popular recommendations.

Donkey Breeding

The donkey's gestation period is 12 months, so mating should be timed in such a way that the fateful days take place in April-June, because the need for warmth is greater and it can also be offered a more vitamin diet.

The donkey is born very developed, and on the second day it already runs. With his legs and long ears he looks a bit strange, but he is very cute and multiplies the attention and love given to him. The stubbornness that characterizes the donkey in Proverbs generally does not correspond to reality, because by teasing young animals and abusing people towards them, they lose their trust.

In order to maintain their confidence, you need to regularly deal with donkeys, know your voice, at least weekly brush their fur and clean their hooves.