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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Welfare Concerns for Mounted Load Carrying by Working Donkey...
Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 886020; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.886020

Welfare Concerns for Mounted Load Carrying by Working Donkeys in Pakistan.

Abstract: Working donkeys () are vital to people's livelihoods. They are essential for carrying goods, however, globally, overloading is one of the primary welfare concerns for working donkeys. We studied mounted load carrying by donkeys and associated factors in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study of donkey owners ( = 332) was conducted, and interviews were undertaken based on a questionnaire. Owners estimated that the median weight of their donkeys was 110 kg [interquartile range (IQR) 100-120 kg], and that they carried a median mounted load of 81.5 kg (IQR 63-99 kg). We found that 87.4% of donkeys carried a load above 50% of their bodyweight ratio (BWR), the median BWR carried was 77.1% (IQR 54.5-90.7%), and 25.3% of donkeys carried above 90% BWR. Donkeys that were loaded at more than 50% BWR were more likely to adopt sternal recumbency compared to donkeys loaded with less weight ( = 0.01). Donkeys carrying construction material were more likely to carry more than the median BWR, when compared to domestic loads ( < 0.001). Younger donkeys aged between one and 5 years carried more than the median BWR compared to those aged over 15 years ( = 0.03). For the models with donkeys carrying median BWR and above 90% BWR, those working in peri-urban and urban areas were more likely to carry a greater BWR than donkeys working in rural areas ( < 0.001; < 0.001, respectively). For donkeys carrying more than 90% BWR, mixed breed donkeys carried higher loads compared to other breeds of donkeys ( < 0.001). Overloading based on current recommendations (50% BWR) was common, with the majority (87.4%) of donkeys reported to carry more than the recommended 50% limit. This survey provides evidence of on-the-ground working practices and factors associated with mounted load carrying, which is critical for developing evidence-based recommendations for loading, in order to improve the welfare of working donkeys.
Copyright © 2022 Bukhari, Rosanowski, McElligott and Parkes.
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Publication Date: 2022-05-27 PubMed ID: 35692297PubMed Central: PMC9186103DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.886020Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The study explores the welfare concerns associated with load carrying by working donkeys in Pakistan, noting that overloading is a common issue, which affects the majority of working donkeys in the country. Various factors influencing load capacity are also elaborated.

Overview of the Research

  • The research is a cross-sectional study involving 332 donkey owners in Pakistan, who were surveyed using structured interviews.
  • The researchers were primarily interested in understanding the median weight of the load carried by working donkeys, and other factors associated with load carrying.
  • The owner’s median estimated weight for their donkey was 110 kg, and the median weight of the load that the donkeys carried was around 81.5 kg.

Key Findings

  • 87.4% of the donkeys carried more than 50% of their bodyweight ratio (BWR). This is higher than the general recommendation, indicating that overloading is a widespread issue among working donkeys in Pakistan.
  • The median BWR carried by donkeys was 77.1%, with a quarter of the donkeys carrying more than 90% of their BWR.
  • Donkeys that were overloaded exhibited visible signs of stress, such as adopting a sternal recumbency posture.
  • Type of load, age of the donkey, surrounding environment, and breed were significant factors influencing the amount of weight a donkey carried.

Implications of the Study

  • The study provided important insights for developing evidence-based recommendations for improving the welfare of working donkeys.
  • The findings implied a need for regulating the weight load carried by the donkeys, educating the donkey owners about the physical signs of stress, and addressing the breed-specific load-carrying capacities.
  • Additionally, policies may need to be put in place to better regulate load carrying in urban and peri-urban areas where donkeys were found to carry significantly heavier loads compared to rural areas.

Limitations and Future Directions

  • Some possible limitations of the study could include biases in the owner’s estimation of their donkey’s weight and load carried, as well as the small sample size concentrated in Pakistan.
  • Future research should focus on extending the scope of this study to other regions and countries to have a more comprehensive understanding of the welfare of working donkeys globally.

Cite This Article

APA
Bukhari SSUH, Rosanowski SM, McElligott AG, Parkes RSV. (2022). Welfare Concerns for Mounted Load Carrying by Working Donkeys in Pakistan. Front Vet Sci, 9, 886020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.886020

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 886020
PII: 886020

Researcher Affiliations

Bukhari, Syed S U H
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Rosanowski, Sarah M
  • Equine Veterinary Consultants Limited, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
McElligott, Alan G
  • Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Parkes, Rebecca S V
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Conflict of Interest Statement

SR is an independent epidemiological consultant who consults under Equine Veterinary Consultants (EVC) Limited. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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  4. Kamran K, Akbar A, Naseem M, Samad A, Samiullah, Achakzai JK, Rehman ZU, Sohail Sajid M, Ali A. Participatory appraisal for healthcare and welfare management strategies of donkeys (Equus ascinus) in Balochistan, Pakistan.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1005079.
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