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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Rec / Use of registered donkeys on the areas of natural constraint...
The Veterinary record2018; 183(9); 298; doi: 10.1136/vr.104355

Use of registered donkeys on the areas of natural constraint scheme in Ireland.

Abstract: Data concerning the numbers, locations and types of donkeys being officially registered (passported) in Ireland (32 counties) via horse passport issuing organisations were gathered. The numbers of agricultural area aid scheme (Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC)) applicants registering passported donkeys (as compared with horses) as livestock units (LUs), the numbers of donkeys they registered and the value of payments that thus accrued to the applicants are also reported for each of 26 counties for the years 2012 to 2014 inclusive. Equids have not been eligible for equivalent agricultural schemes in the six counties of Northern Ireland. Horse Sport Ireland registration data shows that two-thirds of almost 8000 donkey passport applicants over a 10-year period came from counties Galway and Mayo and that only one-third of donkeys registered were male. As per ANC figures reported here for 2014, there were over 2500 donkeys registered as LUs on ANC, at a payment value to their keepers (in the 26 counties) of almost €1.6M. Future iterations of the ANC scheme are currently under review with regard to limiting donkey eligibility criteria, for example, to females and neutered males. The future monetary value of (some) donkeys could be adversely affected by restrictions in eligibility and by the uncertainty engendered by the prospect of change with the potential for unintended consequences.
© British Veterinary Association (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.
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Publication Date: 2018-06-22 PubMed ID: 29934398PubMed Central: PMC6145283DOI: 10.1136/vr.104355Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study examines the registration of donkeys in Ireland, their distribution, gender ratio and how farmers use them as Livestock Units under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) aid scheme. It also discusses the economic value generated, and the potential impacts of future changes to the eligibility criteria within the scheme.

Donkey Registration

  • The data used in this research tracked the number of donkeys that were officially registered or “passported” in all 32 counties of Ireland.
  • Over a span of 10 years, Horse Sport Ireland documented approximately 8000 donkey passport applications.
  • Two-thirds of these applications came from the counties of Galway and Mayo. Furthermore, only one-third of the donkeys registered were male. This suggests a significant geographical and gender disparity in donkey registration.

Aid Scheme Participation

  • The study also analyzed the number of farmers who registered passported donkeys as Livestock Units (LUs) under the ANC scheme. This scheme allows farmers on naturally constrained areas to receive aid for maintaining certain types of livestock, including donkeys.
  • In 2014, more than 2500 donkeys were registered as LUs, generating nearly €1.6 million for their keepers in 26 counties.
  • It’s worth noting that the six counties of Northern Ireland did not have equivalent agricultural schemes where equids could be enlisted as LUs, so no data was observed from there.

Future Impacts

  • The ANC scheme is currently reviewing proposals to limit the eligibility criteria for donkeys. For instance, only female and neutered male donkeys might be registered as LUs in the future.
  • These eligibility restrictions and uncertainties about future policy changes could potentially decrease the monetary value of donkeys and have unanticipated impacts.

Cite This Article

APA
Collins JA, Wall PG, Duggan VE. (2018). Use of registered donkeys on the areas of natural constraint scheme in Ireland. Vet Rec, 183(9), 298. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104355

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 183
Issue: 9
Pages: 298

Researcher Affiliations

Collins, Joseph A
  • Deerpark Veterinary Services, Cork, Ireland.
Wall, Patrick G
  • School of Public Health and Population Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Duggan, Vivienne E
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Identification Systems / statistics & numerical data
  • Animals
  • Equidae
  • Female
  • Ireland
  • Male
  • Registries / statistics & numerical data
  • Travel / legislation & jurisprudence

Conflict of Interest Statement

Competing interests: None declared.

References

This article includes 20 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15192768pubmed: 41096364google scholar: lookup
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