A Cross-Sectional Survey of Foaling-Related Parameters of Jennies (Equus asinus) Under Smallholder Farm Conditions in Northeast China.
Abstract: It is important to assess the reproductive efficiency and improve the reproductive management to promote the donkey population development. The overall foaling-related parameters of jennies under smallholder farm conditions in China were hardly under investigation. A cross-sectional survey of randomly selected 694 smallholder farms was conducted in 40 villages in the north, east, and south areas of Western Liaoning Province and Eastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region between March and July, 2017. Foaling-related parameters were assessed such as the mean age at first foaling, foaling rate and foaling interval during 2014-2017. Only two-thirds of the adult jennies foaled during the 3-year survey period and delivered a foal every 1.9 years. The mean age at first foaling was 45.3 months. The lowest incidence of foaling rate was in coincidence with the peak of foaling. The overall mean values for the foaling rate and foaling interval were 75% and 500.5 days, respectively. Significant changes of foaling rates before the age of 15 years and foaling intervals in the first 8 parities were not observed. The results indicate that the jennies could maintain relatively fine foaling-related parameters under smallholder farm conditions in northeast of China. However, the foaling rates hardly remained high during the whole breeding season represented a major loss to the donkey breeding.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-01-10 PubMed ID: 32172918DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102928Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research involved studying the reproductive efficiency of jennies, female donkeys, in smallholder farms in northeast China. The researchers analyzed various parameters related to their breeding, revealing that although the donkeys maintained fairly efficient reproductive practices, overall foaling rates remained relatively high throughout the breeding season.
Research Method
A detailed survey was carried out over 694 smallholder farms, randomly chosen from 40 different villages in the Western Liaoning Province and Eastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The time period of this survey was between March and July 2017.
- The research specifically targeted the northeastern region of China under smallholder farm conditions.
- The while gathering data, parameters measured include mean age at first foaling, foaling rate, and foaling interval from 2014 to 2017.
Findings
According to the findings of the study,
- Only two-thirds of adult jennies foaled during the 3-year period covered by the survey, delivering a foal roughly every 1.9 years.
- The average age at first foaling was found to be 45.3 months.
- The lowest foaling rate coincided with the peak of foaling.
- The overall mean values for the foaling rate and foaling interval were 75% and 500.5 days respectively.
- There were no significant changes in the foaling rates up to the age of 15 years and in the foaling intervals within the first 8 parities.
Implications
The results of the study indicated that jennies were able to maintain fairly effective foaling-related parameters under smallholder farm conditions in the northeastern region of China.
- Despite this, the research shows a major loss to donkey breeding as the foaling rates hardly stayed high for the full breeding season.
- This implies a need for changes, likely in farming practices or donkey management, in order to increase the efficiency of donkey breeding, and, in turn, the overall donkey population.
Cite This Article
APA
Deng L, Shi S, Li J, Tang C, Liao Q, Xie P.
(2020).
A Cross-Sectional Survey of Foaling-Related Parameters of Jennies (Equus asinus) Under Smallholder Farm Conditions in Northeast China.
J Equine Vet Sci, 87, 102928.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102928 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding & Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Liaoning Shenyang, PR China. Electronic address: ldeng@syau.edu.cn.
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding & Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Liaoning Shenyang, PR China.
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: jlivet@hotmail.com.
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding & Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Liaoning Shenyang, PR China.
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding & Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Liaoning Shenyang, PR China.
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding & Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Liaoning Shenyang, PR China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- China / epidemiology
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Equidae
- Farms
- Female
- Horses
- Reproduction
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Zhang Z, Huang B, Wang Y, Zhu M, Liu G, Wang C. A survey report on the donkey original breeding farms in China: Current aspects and future prospective. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1126138.
- Deng L, Shi S, Li J, Tang C, Han Y, Xie P. A Survey of Smallholder Farms Regarding Demographics, Health Care, and Management Factors of Donkeys in Northeastern China. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:626622.
- Deng L, Han Y, Tang C, Liao Q, Li Z. Label-Free Mass Spectrometry-Based Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Serum Proteins During Early Pregnancy in Jennies (Equus asinus). Front Vet Sci 2020;7:569587.
- Assefa S, Duguma B, Worku Z. Assessment of Breeding Practices and Productive and Reproductive Performance of Multiple Livestock Species in Mixed Farming System in Majang Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Vet Med Sci 2026 Jan;12(1):e70712.
- Ullah A, Khan MZ, Wang C. Overview of Donkey Welfare and Husbandry Practices in Asia. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 1;15(23).
- Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE. An Overview of Donkey Neonatology. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 6;15(13).
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