A2 27 2012 Ylmazetal TheDomesticatedDonkeyIEconomicImportanceUncommonUsageetc 6 7 PDF

Can J App Sci 2012; 4(2): 339-353 Orhan et al.
, 2012
Jack or jackass: A male donkey. The term stallion may also be used instead of jack or jackass,
especially where an uncastrated male is indicated.
Jennet or jenny: A female donkey. The word ‘mare’ is often also used instead of jennet or
jenny, especially where breeding is referred to.
Colt: Male offspring 1 year old of a donkey (or horse).
Filly: Female offspring 1 year old of a donkey (or horse).
Burro: In Latin America or the Spanish-influenced Western United States, also in Lusophone
Africa, word for donkey.
Cuddy: Colloquial Scottish name for donkey.
Moke: Welsh gypsy name for donkey or mule.
Mule: Offspring of jackass (male donkey) and mare (female horse)
Hinny: Offspring of jennet/jenny (female donkey) and stallion (male horse).
Gelding: The proper term for a gelded (castrated or altered) male donkey (or horse).
Mule Jack: Not necessarily a mule, but a jackass used to breed to horse mares to obtain mules.
Jennet Jack: A jackass used to breed to jennets (female donkeys) to produce more donkeys
(www.lovelongears.com, 2011). 18
Ecology
Donkeys tolerate hot, dry conditions, often in areas with low-quality forage. They have a
higher threshold for thirst than other equine species in terms of water intake and latency to
drink when fluid deficits develop. 7 They do not thrive in damp areas, but easily live in
marginal desert lands and are adapted to areas that are arid at least seasonally. 2
Form
Equus asinus individuals typically have narrow, concave and slightly flexible hoofs which are
suitable for rocky areas rather than flat desert or sand dunes. ‘Chestnuts’ (vestigial remains of
a ‘thumb’ or dewclaw) are located only on the forelimbs. The dental array is: incissium 3/3,
canine 1/1, premolar 3-4/3, molar 3/3, giving a total of 40 or 42 teeth. The incisors are used to
seize plants and break off portions, or sometimes to uproot the whole plant while foraging, in
which hoofs may also be employed. Donkeys breathe ∼22 times per minute. 7 Their ears are
proportionally much bigger than those of most other animals and enable them to hear the
distant calls of fellow donkeys. The long ears also help to cool the donkey' s blood. Donkeys'
tough digestive system can break down near-inedible vegetation and extract moisture from
food more efficiently.
Lifespan
The normal lifespan of a donkey in good health can exceed 50 years, but their lives are often
shortened by poor management and parasite infestation. 12 In Ethiopia a donkey life span is ∼9
years, but they can live up to 25 years under adequate health care and improved nutrition. 10
Their average lifespan is about 15 years in Mexico. In some countries Jennies are not kept by
donkey owners, who believe that, “Jennies cause problems and do not work well”. Thus in
such areas the ratio of males to females is about 4:1 which causes lowered donkey production.
Abandoned Jennies are mostly killed by predators. 20 Where jacks are left uncastrated, this can
also cause problems, as intact jacks can be aggressive towards younger males and even kill
them. 11
Behaviour
In the wild, donkeys graze from dawn till late morning and again in the late afternoon; they
rest in the heat of the day and around midnight, when they will actually lie down to sleep,
leaving one or more of their number standing on guard. Much of their behaviour is governed
by their herd-animal nature.Some wild male donkeys are territorial, inhabiting and defending
specific areas for several weeks. 7
343
Can J App Sci 2012; 4(2): 339-353 Orhan et al., 2012
Figure 8.Manda at 22 years Figure 9.Milking

(www.donkeypower.donkecology.com) (www.donkeypower.donkecology.com)
Figure 10.Mudenda showing stripes Figure 11. Mule logging

(www.donkeypower.donkecology.com) (www.donkeypower.donkecology.com)
When not sexually excited – sometimes a problem in intact males of any species – or being
aggressive towards carnivores, donkeys are very friendly, calm, quite, patient, intelligent,
cautious, playful, and eager to learn and enjoy the company of humans. They have great
endurance. They are very cautious and agile on poor tracks. They are notorious for
stubbornness, but this is due to some handlers’ misinterpretation of their highly-developed
sense of self preservation. It is difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something it
sees as contrary to its own best interest. Donkey is self-preserving in nature, but it is often
wrongly called ‘stubborn’ by humans. This almost certainly reflects the handlers’
shortcomings rather than thedonkeys’. They prefer to do what is good for themselves, which
is not always what the human thinks is best, especially when it comes to getting their feet wet.
They dislike stepping in water or on wet areas, and even dislike bridges over dry gullies.
Donkeys can perform all the gaits that horses or mules do, 18 , 19 but prefer a four-footed gait.
344

A2 27 2012 Ylmazetal TheDomesticatedDonkeyIEconomicImportanceUncommonUsageetc 6 7 PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A2 27 2012 Ylmazetal TheDomesticatedDonkeyIEconomicImportanceUncommonUsageetc 6 7 PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A2 27 2012 Ylmazetal TheDomesticatedDonkeyIEconomicImportanceUncommonUsageetc 6 7 PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Can J App Sci 2012; 4(2): 339-353 Orhan et al.

Figure 8.Manda at 22 years Figure 9.Milking

Figure 10.Mudenda showing stripes Figure 11. Mule logging

You might also like