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Tropical animal health and production2025; 57(7); 309; doi: 10.1007/s11250-025-04559-5

Hair whorl traits associated with temperament in donkeys.

Abstract: Hair whorl is a trait that has been associated with temperament in horses and cattle. In horses, whorl traits have been linked to behavior, temperament, and laterality. However, there are no studies with donkeys, which is the aim of the present study. Thirty-seven donkeys of the Nordestino ecotype were used. The following hair whorl traits were recorded: number, position and rotation on the head and number on neck and chest. The reaction of animals to a new object was measured by flight direction, flight distance, latency and flight score. Animals with clockwise whorls tended to escape to the right and animals with counterclockwise whorls tended to escape to the left (p < 0.05). The horizontal position and number of whorls in the head were associated with flight score (p < 0.05). Donkeys with a whorl in the upper third of the bridge of the nose or two whorls on the head were less reactive. The observation of these traits can assist in the handling, taming, and training of animals. This is the first study associating whorl traits with temperament in donkeys.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-18 PubMed ID: 40679534DOI: 10.1007/s11250-025-04559-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study investigated the relationship between hair whorl traits and temperament in donkeys, an area previously explored in horses and cattle but not in donkeys.
  • The researchers found that certain hair whorl characteristics on donkeys’ heads are linked to their behavioral reactions to new objects, suggesting potential practical applications in managing and training donkeys.

Background and Purpose

  • Hair whorls are patterns in the direction in which hair grows, often noted on animals like horses and cattle.
  • Previous research has shown that in horses, hair whorl traits correlate with temperament, behavior, and brain laterality (preference for using one side of the body/brain).
  • No prior studies had examined if these hair whorl traits similarly relate to temperament in donkeys.
  • The goal of this study was to explore the association between hair whorl characteristics and temperament in the Nordestino ecotype of donkeys.

Subjects and Methods

  • A total of 37 donkeys from the Nordestino ecotype were selected for the study.
  • Researchers recorded:
    • Number of hair whorls
    • Position of whorls on the head, neck, and chest
    • Rotation direction of the whorls on the head (clockwise or counterclockwise)
  • Temperament was assessed by introducing a novel object and measuring the donkeys’ flight reaction using:
    • Flight direction (whether the donkey escaped left or right)
    • Flight distance (how far the donkey fled)
    • Latency (time taken before reacting)
    • Flight score (a composite measure of reactivity)

Key Findings

  • The direction of hair whorl rotation was significantly associated with flight direction:
    • Donkeys with clockwise whorls tended to escape to the right side.
    • Donkeys with counterclockwise whorls tended to escape to the left side.
    • This finding was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
  • The horizontal position and the number of head whorls were linked to the donkey’s flight score:
    • Donkeys with a whorl located in the upper third of the bridge of the nose or those with two whorls on the head had lower flight scores meaning they were less reactive or fearful.
    • This suggests specific whorl positions correspond to calmer temperaments.
  • No direct results were reported for whorls on the neck and chest in relation to temperament, suggesting these traits might be less relevant or require further investigation.

Implications and Conclusions

  • This is the first study establishing a connection between hair whorl traits and temperament in donkeys, expanding understanding beyond horses and cattle.
  • The identified associations can assist handlers, trainers, and breeders by providing non-invasive indicators of temperament and behavioral tendencies, facilitating better handling and taming strategies.
  • For example, noticing a donkey’s whorl direction and position might help predict its flight response side and reactivity level, allowing more customized and safer management practices.
  • Further research with larger samples and varied donkey populations would strengthen the generalizability of these results.

Cite This Article

APA
Silva ILS, Feitosa FLB, Alves JS, de Novais AS, de Bittencourt TCBDSC, Costa RB, Oliveira CAA, de Camargo GMF. (2025). Hair whorl traits associated with temperament in donkeys. Trop Anim Health Prod, 57(7), 309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-025-04559-5

Publication

Tropical animal health and production
ISSN: 1573-7438
NlmUniqueID: 1277355
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 7
Pages: 309

Researcher Affiliations

Silva, Ivana Louise Santos
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Avenida Milton Santos, 500, Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110, Brazil.
Feitosa, Fabieli Loise Braga
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Avenida Milton Santos, 500, Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110, Brazil.
Alves, Jackeline Santos
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Avenida Milton Santos, 500, Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110, Brazil.
de Novais, Andressa Santana
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Avenida Milton Santos, 500, Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110, Brazil.
de Bittencourt, Thereza Cristina Bório Dos Santos Calmon
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Avenida Milton Santos, 500, Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110, Brazil.
Costa, Raphael Bermal
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Avenida Milton Santos, 500, Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110, Brazil.
Oliveira, Chiara Albano de Araújo
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Avenida Milton Santos, 500, Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110, Brazil.
de Camargo, Gregório Miguel Ferreira
  • Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Avenida Milton Santos, 500, Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110, Brazil. gregorio.camargo@ufba.br.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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