1. particularly in Africa
WHERE
DONKEYS
MAY GO
The future of donkey
breeds and breeding
particularly in Africa

2. Geneticists report that there is extremely low diversity within the whole population of donkeys.
The ancestral types to ALL of today’s domestic donkeys both seem to have existed in Africa, where two sorts of wild ass still exist, the Nubian and the Somali ass, both Equus africanus africanus.

3. SO, WHAT BREEDS ARE THERE ?
Note that most of the ‘breeds’ reflected here are more strictly regarded as ‘types’, and they are very variable with regard to characteristics
§ Endangered or extinct
ª Used solely or mostly for mule breeding
Linear measurements represent height at withers, unless otherwise specified; where necessary these have been converted into cm from US inches or ‘hands’
(1 hand = 4 inches; 1”( inch) = 2.54 cm, thus 1 hand = cm)

4. AFRICA AND THE NEAR EAST ( including Turkey but not Afghanistan )
From which it will be seen that very few clearly-defined breeds can be identified, except for the White Riding Ass historically bred for the nobility. The donkeys south of the Equator, i.e. in South Africa, were mostly imported from Europe.

5. AFRICA AND NEAR EAST USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
ARABIAN WHITE ASS
Large
“refined, saddle type”
DAMASCUS SADDLE ASS
(see WHITE EGYPTIAN ASS)
Known since Biblical times and carefully bred: “originally called the White Damascus Ass and was the mount of kings”. Now used for anything.
EAST AFRICAN DONKEY
102cm or less
Grey, brown or reddish
“poor confirmation, hardy”
ISRAEL LOCAL BREED
102cm cM
Grey, black, brown
“no careful breeding”
MAASAI DONKEY
Small
dun
“well known belongs to Maasai tribe, used for pack etc.”
MOROCCAN ASS
91cm-122cm
Light gray with “pronounced dark stripes and striping on legs”.
MUSCAT DONKEY/
RIDING DONKEY
122cm cm
Silver grey “which tends to look white against the black skin of ageing animals”.

6. AFRICA AND NEAR EAST (contd)
USUAL NAMES
ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
NATIVE ETHIOPIAN
Small
dun to black
“heavy head, roman nose”
pack animals
NIGERIAN ASS
dun
“ordinary”
NUBIAN ASS
122cm
Grey, summer coat reddish; cross short or thin, no leg stripes
Wild
SOMALI ASS
142.25cm
Grey, summer coat yellowish. No cross, but very prominent leg stripes
SENNAR ASSª
Pale grey
Good for riding
SOMALILAND DOMESTIC ASS
102cm
“coarse, common”
“ordinary work”
SOUTH AFRICAN
small
black, dun, brown, light gray
common

7. AFRICA AND NEAR EAST (contd)
USUAL NAMES
ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
SUDANESE RIDING DONKEY – SUB-BREED ATABAI
102cm-112cm
middle sized
Grey, white, reddish or dark brown, often without cross.
SUDANESE RIDING DONKEY – SUB-BREED KASSALA
larger
Reddish, with cross
SUDANESE RIDING DONKEY – SUB-BREED MASSAWA
almost white
saddle asses
TURKISH ASS
Small
black or dun
“sturdy”
SYRIAN WILD ASS
Under 102 cm
No shoulder stripe
Wild – extinct [?]
WHITE EGYPTIAN - BALADI of lower Egypt
122cm cm
White or grey
Known since Biblical times and carefully bred: “originally called the White Damascus Ass and was the mount of kings”. Now used for anything.
WHITE EGYPTIAN - HASSAWI
The common saddle animal
WHITE EGYPTIAN - SAIDI of Upper Egypt

8. ASIA
Original Asian types, now extinct, have left little or no genetic trace.

9. ASIA USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
ASIAN DONKEY
“Small, some so small to be of miniature status”
dun
“common”
Under 91 cm.
Thick woolly coats
“used for packing”
CENTRAL ASIAN DONKEY
Small
mostly dark colours
“ hardy, coarse”
KIANG
142cm
Shorter ears, rounder foot
Wild – extinct [?]
KULAN
127cm
Dark, “very marked broad” backstripe
Thick winter coat
KWANCHUNG
~142.25cm, over 300 kg
MAHRATTA
“Very small” (61cm-91.5cm?)

10. ASIA (contd) USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
NORTH CHINA INDIGENOUS
132cm
Dark brown and reddish chestnut .
PAKISTAN DONKEY
Small
dun
“common”
PURGOSH ASS
122cm
Reddish brown
“excessive amount of long hair”
“Some are used for sturdy saddle animals”
SADDLE TYPE DONKEY – LARGER
112cm cm
White or grey, no cross
finer hair but bushy mane and tail, smaller head
“saddle type”
SADDLE TYPE DONKEY – SMALLER
81.25cm cm.
Dark grey with cross
“small body, large wide head, long ears”
SHANTUNG ASSª
Almost black with light points
SUIMI
122cm cm, over 200 kg

11. EUROPE
(mostly southern Europe – although it is to be noted that countries still widely using donkeys, such as Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece, are not reflected here. It is not known if they have established breeds.)

12. EUROPE USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
AMIATA
135cm-138cm.
Mouse-grey with dark cross on back, and leg stripes.
strong
lively
ANDALUSIAN/
ANDALUCIAN ASS
135cm-150cm (female) 145cm-158cm (male).
White-grey or dapple-grey roan
hair short and fine. Conformation “large and rangy …large, firm bones and good quality bone in the legs… Head is impressive, with roman noses, very large ears, all on a muscular neck” and is “carried well forward, giving the impression of energy”.
“very graceful and fine movement and quiet disposition”.

13. EUROPE (contd) USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
ANE NORMAND
110cm-125cm.
Brown to mouse grey with dorsal stripe, underbelly grey/white, and no leg stripes.
Originally for farm transport and seaside resorts.
ASINARA
80cm-100cm.
“Most are pure white and often have blue eyes” (albino ?)
popular for circuses.
BAUDET
(As POITOU ?)

14. EUROPE (contd) USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
CATALONIAN/
CATALAN ASS§
135cm-148cm (female) 145cm-160cm (male)
Glossy black to dark grape; silver white underbelly, tip of nose and around eyes, reddish or chestnut at edge of white, also sometimes on ears, & a short fringe of fine reddish hair around eyes.
Conformation “gives it a graceful and long silhouette … a heavy head with a wide face and big, wide eyes …back … relatively long with strong muscular loins. The breast is wide and deep”. This breed shows a good deal of refinement about the bone and head”.
great style and action,
“an admirable temperament”, during the 19th century many animals were exported around the world to improve donkey breeds and produce mules.
COTENTIN
115cm-130cm (female), 120cm-135cm (male)
Ash grey, blue grey or dove grey with white underbelly, defined cross and sometimes leg stripes.

15. EUROPE (contd) USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
CYPRIOT/CYPRUS ASSª
11.75cm-122 cm
dark
“long legged, strong and well developed”
GASCON OR PYRENEES DONKEYª
120cm and above
Shiny black, shaded black, dark brown or chestnut. Almost white around eyes, base of nose, inside thigh and belly.
Coat fluffy up to 2 years.
In 19th cent. used for milk production as well as draft, and described as trotting “just as quickly as a horse pulling two people in a two wheeled cart and which can work just as well as the heavy draught horses while costing a lot less to feed” and “credited as being the best adapted form of transport for rough terrain and an indispensable part of the agriculture of mountainous slopes”, but now only tourism.

16. EUROPE (contd) USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
GRAND NOIR DU BERRY
130cm (female) or 135cm-145cm
Single-colour bay to dark brown to black, except for grey/white muzzle and eye surround (each of which can be edged with red), belly, shoulders and inside thighs. No stripes or cross.
Neck “strong … back straight…hindquarters either rounded or sloped... In silhouette, the donkey is very well proportioned.”
Bred for barge-pulling.
MAJORCA ASS§
142.25cm-162.5cm (males)
usually black
“with correspondingly large bodies and bone”. Coat “more harsh than silky or glossy”. Head large with very long ears.
Bred for draft but “with no real style or appearance in action but … very powerful with a rather sluggish disposition”

17. EUROPE (contd) USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
MALLORCA/
MALLORQUIN ASSª
125cm-135cm (female) 145cm-155cm (male)
Usually black to dark grape, white/grey shading around nostrils, under mouth, around eyes and on underbelly.
Large head, broad hoof and smaller and finer boned than the CATALONIAN.
MALTESE ASS
147cm max.
Black or dark brown
“slender with good bone with very large, hard hooves. . but they have “style, well-balanced conformation and refinement”.
“fiery disposition”
MARTINA FRANCAª
145cm-150cm
Black or dark bay with light points
“well formed bone structure, short straight back, short croup and strong joints, heavy head with large long ears”.
It is “known for its exceptional hardiness and strength” living in Apulia in conditions which have led “the breed to withstand extremes of temperature and produce very hardy foals”.

18. EUROPE (contd) USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
PANTELLERIA§ cm
Blackish or dark bay
Coat short and shiny “with an oily touch”. Head “small and thin”
“a very graceful action and is … lively but nervous”. Widely sought after for circus use, they “had extraordinary stamina enabling them to maintain a speed of 14½ km per hour, pulling light loads for several hours. In the past races were held at which donkeys reached 24 km per hour.”
POITOUª
137cm-152.5cm and upwards
Black or dark brown. No backstripe or cross.
Extremely long silky coat, long mane and well-haired tail. Very large ears “full of hair, the head was coarse and Roman nosed with a drooping lower lip …huge feet, very heavy large bone and good muscling”.

19. EUROPE (contd) USUAL NAMES ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
PROVENCE DONKEY (also known as ARIES, CRAU, MIGRATION & SAVOIE)
120cm-133cm (male) and cm (female)
Dove grey varying from light to dark with often a hint of red or brown, white around the eyes and muzzle. Dark, well-defined cross, forehead, ears and edge of eyes and muzzle “almost always have a brown/red tint”. Limbs may be marked with black zebra stripes “and there is often at least one diagonal stripe on the front hocks”.
Hardy, with solid bone structure, head “well set on neck … The foot is quite large for a donkey. The back is straight, flanks are large and hindquarters solid.”
Originally bred by shepherds for seasonal movement with flocks, “well able to carry heavy loads, with a docile temperament and good legs to cover the migratory routes … calm, patient, easy to saddle, to put to harness or to ride. He is very sure footed even on rough ground.”

20. EUROPE (contd) RAGUSA/ RAGUSIAN OR SICILIANª§ USUAL NAMES
ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
RAGUSA/
RAGUSIAN OR SICILIANª§
135cm-138 cm (female) 140cm-145cm (male),
around 350 kg
Dark bay with light points, lighter brown underside
Head “strong and compact … well set on neck, good barrel and straight back, well proportioned legs with small, neat and supple joints,, small feet with strong, high hoofs for mountain travel.”
“mostly mountain pack asses”. Used to breed war mules “fondly remembered for their patience and good temperament” and this breed noted for “its sure-footedness on any terrain …still used for riding”
ROMAGNOLOª
Large
SARDINIAN§
85cm-115cm, kg
Grey with white underbelly, and distinct cross on back
“solid legs and is very robust”.
Used by shepherds for carrying goods, produce and firewood and “known for its patience and gentle manner”, although in some parts of Sardinia “donkey meat was considered to be a particular delicacy”. Life expectancy years.

21. EUROPE (contd) ZAMARANO-LEONESª§ USUAL NAMES
ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
ZAMARANO-LEONESª§
~141cm (female)
151cm-157cm (male)
350 kg
Usually black or brown
“do not have much style but are heavy boned and strong bodied” with “a large head and powerful neck with ears that tend to fall to the front or side”.

22. THE AMERICAS AND AUSTRALIA
All of these originated in European breeds, and Australian donkeys are not differentiated from the US Standard ‘large’ donkey – more of a type than a breed.

23. SOUTH, CENTRAL, NORTH AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA
USUAL NAMES
ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
AUSETANOª
Medium sized
“from Catalonian blood”
AUSTRALIAN
See US STANDARD LARGE DONKEY
BRAZILIAN ASS
122cm.
Many colours
“good conformation”
CLASS B (OVERSIZED) MINIATURE
91.5cm-96.5cm
(otherwise as US MINIATURE MEDITERRANEAN)

24. SOUTH, CENTRAL, NORTH AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA (contd)
USUAL NAMES
ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
MAMMOTH JACKSTOCKª
137cm (female), cm (male, which must also measure 19cm around cannon bone below knee), heartgirth at least 147cm (female) 152.5cm (male)
Mostly black, but many shades of red
Coat fine and glossy, “head should be well shaped, carried alertly and well balanced. The ears should be long, well set and carried erect. The eye should be large and open and face straight with only a slight roman nose. The animal should have alertness and style in its manner and gaits”. Also: “The topline should be straight and strong. They should be short-coupled and smooth over the hips, carrying a long, well-muscled croup. The shoulders should be well sloped, chest wide and deep and the ribs deep and well-sprung to give depth and capacity to the middle. Heavy muscling should be evidenced … also through the chest, forearm and gaskin. The set and quality of the legs is important and should be as nearly correct as possible. The bone and joints should be large but clean and flat. The feet should be deep, round and large and show considerable evidence of good wearing qualities.”

25. SOUTH, CENTRAL, NORTH AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA (contd)
USUAL NAMES
ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
NORTHEASTERN ASSª§
PEGA ASS
white or light grey, some cream
body fine and muscular, limbs long, strong bones, sloping pasterns,
“Graceful … a gaited Ass”.
SPOTTED ASS
‘Pinto’ pattern, including blaze and sock, overlaying any of the base colours, and “looks to the eye as if the donkey were a white animal with dark spots” but can also be ‘tyger-spotted’ with light spots on dark.

26. SOUTH, CENTRAL, NORTH AMERICA AND AUSTRALIA (contd)
USUAL NAMES
ACCEPTED SIZE (height at withers etc)
ACCEPTED COLOUR/S & MARKINGS
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(physical)
(behavioural, incl.use)
US MINIATURE MEDITERRANEAN
(developed in US from Sicilian and Sardinian stock)
91.44 cm or less
Full range of donkey colours, with backstripe and cross
Conformation as for draft: “leg bones large in relation to size, ribs well sprung, chest wide, heart girth deep”.
Life expectancy years.
US STANDARD
101.6cm-122cm
“a rainbow of colours”
“a variety of conformation”
US STANDARD LARGE
122cm-137cm (female) cm (male)
Any colour
Any body type, “from the lighter saddle-type to the heavier Mammoth”
US STANDARD SMALL
91.5cm-101.5cm

27. THE VARIABILITY OF SIZE
Both adult donkeys, 152cm (Mammoth) meets 86cm (Miniature)

28. THE VARIABILITY OF COAT LENGTH
A breed not even mentioned – white donkeys in Austria

29. COAT LENGTH (INCLUDING LONG MANE) AND COLOUR
And this one was bred and lived in a hot climate

30. ALL THE STRIPES ONE CAN THINK OF !
No, no zebra ancestry !

31. NOT ONLY STRIPES AND BELLY COLOURS, AS WELL AS EYE RINGS AND PALE MUZZLE ARE COMMON,
but smaller marks can often be seen, especially on African donkeys. In the literature, only the ‘collar button’ gets mentioned.
(Some of these are names I myself have allocated)

32. In Africa, variations even among related donkeys (as these are) can be suggestive of very diverse ancestry

33. That genetic study had some hard-working contributors !

34. Donkeys are expected to work, and work hard – that is what they are bred for,first and foremost

35. SO … WHAT WORK SHOULD THEY BE BRED FOR ?

36. AND WHAT CHARACTERISTICS WILL BE NEEDED ?

37. CULTIVATION PHYSICAL TRAITS:
Strength, low consumption of food and water
BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS:
Obedience, teamwork, ability to walk in straight line

38. PULLING CARTS PHYSICAL TRAITS: Strength BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS:
Obedience, teamwork, ability to walk in straight line, calmness in the face of other traffic, patience to remain stationery in harness for long periods
PHYSICAL TRAITS:
Strength

39. MOUNTAINEERING PHYSICAL TRAITS: Strength, small size
BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS: Surefootedness, ability to handle gravity shifts in load, recognition of pathways, realistic perception of dangers, ability to turn or reverse within narrow confines

40. ON-FARM TASKS PHYSICAL TRAITS:
Strength, low consumption of food and water
BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS: Obedience, calmness in the face of other traffic, patience to remain tethered or harnessed for long periods.

41. FETCHING WATER PHYSICAL TRAITS: Strength
BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS: Obedience, calmness in the face of other traffic, patience to remain tethered or harnessed for long periods (in short, as for pulling carts).

42. TOURISM
PHYSICAL TRAITS: Strength, small size, low consumption of food and water
BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS:
As for both cart-pulling and mountaineering, but also calmness in the presence of strange humans, especially children

43. THERAPY
BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS: Calmness in the presence of strange humans, especially children

44. LITERACY PHYSICAL TRAITS: Strength BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS:
BOXES LOADED WITH BOOKS
PHYSICAL TRAITS: Strength
BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS:
As for both cart-pulling and mountaineering, but also calmness in the presence of strange humans, especially children
OR IN A CART, COMPLETE WITH VIDEOS AND PLAYER

45. DEALING WITH OTHER ANIMALS
PHYSICAL TRAITS:
Speed ? Large size ? Resistance to tick infestation
BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS:
Not too much aggressiveness, calmness

46. PERHAPS WE JUST EXPECT TOO MUCH !
One thing donkeys cannot do (yet)
is fly

47. SO WHERE MAY DONKEYS GO ?

48. Decorative and showy ?
(Then maybe we should indeed think of breeds)

49. Or just very useful ?

50. Whatever we need, it is usually DONKEYS and not particular breeds that provide it

51. Why interfere with something already so good ?

52. And has apparently been that way for more than
4000 years

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Peta A. Jones, MSc PhD
PO Box 414 TSHITANDANI/MAKHADO 0920 South Africa
cell tel/fax