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Donkey Feeding During Maintenance, Pregnancy, and Lactation: Effects on Body Weight, Milk Production, and Foal Growth.
Abstract: We evaluated the daily intake in donkeys during maintenance, late pregnancy, and early lactation. The growth curves of the foals in the first eight weeks of life and the milk production in lactating jennies were also investigated. Donkeys were separated into two groups: seven pregnant jennies (group 1: pregnant/lactating) and seven nonpregnant, nonlactating jennies (group 2). The groups were fed two different diets each. The feeding period for group 1 covered eight weeks before parturition and eight weeks postpartum. Group 2 was managed during the same time period (16 weeks). Diet 1 consisted of ad libitum hay, which was fed to group 1 during late pregnancy and to group 2 from weeks 1-8. Diet 2 consisted of the same ad libitum hay supplemented with 2 kg/head/day of concentrate, which was fed to group 1 during lactation and to group 2 from weeks 9-16. The daily dry matter intake (diet 1) was 2.56 kg/100 kg of body weight (BW) for nonpregnant jennies and 31% lower in the pregnant donkeys. In the lactating jennies, the total dry matter intake was similar to the nonpregnant group fed diet 2. The nonpregnant jennies lost 1.9% of their initial BW when fed diet 1, whereas they gained 8.4% of their initial BW when fed with diet 2. A weight loss was also found in the lactating donkeys. The foals more than doubled in their birth weight within two months.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-05-22 PubMed ID: 32684269DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103131Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research examined the daily food intake of donkeys during normal periods, late stages of pregnancy, and early stages of lactation. The study also observed the growth of foals in the first eight weeks of their lives, and the production of milk in lactating female donkeys (jennies). The researchers found that there were noticeable differences in body weight and food intake depending on the jennies’ stage of life and type of diet.
Experimental Design
- The experiment involved 14 donkeys which were divided into two groups: seven were pregnant (group 1) and seven were not pregnant nor lactating (group 2).
- They were fed two different diets over a period of 16 weeks. Group 1’s feeding period spanned eight weeks before giving birth and eight weeks afterwards. Group 2’s feeding was managed over an equivalent time frame.
- The first diet comprised of unlimited hay, which was given to group 1 during late pregnancy and to group 2 for the first eight weeks.
- The second diet was identical to the first but supplemented with a 2 kg daily serving of concentrate, provided to group 1 during lactation and group 2 for the remaining eight weeks.
Findings and Implications
- The daily dry matter intake (the first diet) was 2.56 kg per 100 kg of body weight in nonpregnant donkeys, and 31% less in the pregnant ones. During lactation, jennies’ total dry matter intake was similar to nonpregnant donkeys fed the second diet.
- Nonpregnant jennies lost 1.9% of their initial body weight when fed diet 1, but gained 8.4% when given diet 2. Lactating donkeys also experienced weight loss.
- Foals more than doubled their birth weight within two months.
- These results provide guidance for feeding and nutrition management of donkeys during different phases of their lives. It shows that jennies’ nutritional needs and body weight are significantly affected by their reproductive cycle, particularly during pregnancy and lactation. This information can inform feeding strategies to maintain the health and productivity of donkeys.
Cite This Article
APA
Salari F, Licitra R, Altomonte I, Martini M.
(2020).
Donkey Feeding During Maintenance, Pregnancy, and Lactation: Effects on Body Weight, Milk Production, and Foal Growth.
J Equine Vet Sci, 91, 103131.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103131 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
- Interdepartmental Centre for Agricultural and Environmental Research "E. Avanzi", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: altomonte@vet.unipi.it.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Weight
- Equidae
- Female
- Horses
- Lactation
- Milk
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Maintenance
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Wei L, Wei J, Liu X, Chen W, Wang C, Khan MZ, Zhang Z. Effects of Feeding Strategies on Gut Microbial Communities in Donkeys: A Comprehensive Narrative Review. Vet Sci 2025 Dec 20;13(1).
- Plotuna AM, Hotea I, Nichita I, Popa I, Imre K, Herman V, Tîrziu E. Phytogenic and Nutritional Strategies to Improve Milk Production and Microbiological Quality in Lactating Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 21;15(20).
- Masebo NT, Benedetti B, Angeloni MG, Lee L, Bigi D, Padalino B. Systematic Literature Review on Donkeys (Equus asinus): Husbandry and Welfare in Europe. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 23;15(19).
- Wang L, Li T, Ma Q, Qu H, Wang C, Liu W, Chai W. Plasma Hormone and Metabolomics Identifies Metabolic Pathways Associated with Growth Rate of Dezhou Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 15;15(10).
- Fantuz F, Todini L, Salimei E, Fatica A, Mariani P, Marcantoni F, Ferraro S. Milk Yield, Major Milk Components and Macro Minerals in Blood Serum of Lactating Donkeys, as Affected by Dietary Trace Element Supplementation and Stage of Lactation. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 8;15(8).
- Zhou M, Ma Z, Du X, Wang C, Liu G. The Milk Compositions and Blood Parameters of Lactating Dezhou Donkeys Changes With Lactation Stages. Vet Med Sci 2025 Mar;11(2):e70269.
- Khan MZ, Chen W, Li M, Ren W, Huang B, Kou X, Ullah Q, Wei L, Wang T, Khan A, Zhang Z, Li L, Wang C. Is there sufficient evidence to support the health benefits of including donkey milk in the diet?. Front Nutr 2024;11:1404998.
- Lisuzzo A, Bonelli F, Sgorbini M, Nocera I, Cento G, Mazzotta E, Turini L, Martini M, Salari F, Morgante M, Badon T, Fiore E. Differences of the Plasma Total Lipid Fraction from Pre-Foaling to Post-Foaling Period in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jan 26;12(3).
- Salari F, Roncoroni C, Altomonte I, Boselli C, Brajon G, Martini M. Effects of the Physiological Status and Diet on Blood Metabolic Parameters in Amiata Dairy Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 17;11(11).
- Cappai MG, Wolf P, Liesegang A, Biggio GP, Podda A, Varcasia A, Tamponi C, Berlinguer F, Cossu I, Pinna W, Cherchi R. Shift in Circulating Serum Protein Fraction (SPF) Levels of Pregnant Jennies and Nutritional Related Aspects at Early-, Mid- and Late Gestation. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 9;11(9).
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