Donkeys breed. Domestic donkey and donkey: how donkey differs from donkey. Distinctive features of the appearance of a miniature donkey

Many people think about the question: what is the difference between a donkey and a donkey and why are they so called? Let's try to figure it out.

Some argue that a donkey and a donkey are one and the same animal. But are they right?

The word "donkey" appeared a very long time ago, when there was a man's acquaintance with this small animal. It is somewhat reminiscent of a horse. It also has hooves and it also makes certain sounds.

What is the difference between a donkey and a donkey

Donkey is an animal with hooves that looks like a horse. Many scientists claim that this animal is a descendant of Somali ancestors. And this animal was a good helper for man.

That is, a donkey and a donkey are one and the same animal. It just has several names, like many other rare animals. The donkey and the donkey differ from each other only in their habitat.

Let's find out more about this interesting animal.

Donkey, its habitat and features

A donkey is a small animal... It belongs to the genus of horses. But it also differs from them - it is its large head and long ears.

Donkeys can be different in color: gray, brown, black, white. There are more than ten breeds of domestic donkeys, which were bred by crossing with other similar animals.

Types of domestic donkeys or donkeys:

Donkey is a domestic donkey... It appeared a very long time ago as an assistant and was used for work in agriculture.

Many scientists argue that domestic donkeys or donkeys appeared much earlier than domestic horses. They were first used in Egypt and other African countries.

Wild donkeys have a cute appearance and live in herds. Each herd contains over a thousand heads. Donkeys live in arid countries, as their hooves are adapted to this climate and dry roads. And wet and dirty ground is contraindicated for them, because their hooves begin to crack and inflammation occurs.

Nutrition and life expectancy

A donkey needs the same care as a horse... But he eats much less than a horse, and is not so picky about cleanliness. It can be fed with hay, straw, barley, grain, oats and even thorns. That is, you do not need to spend a lot on its content.

Donkeys that live in the wild feed on vegetation: grass, leaves. Since they live in countries with arid climates, they can do without water for a long time.

With the onset of spring, donkeys begin the mating season. The donkey gives birth to only one cub and feeds it with its milk for six months. Bearing a cub lasts from twelve to fourteen months. Immediately after birth, the cub can already stand on its own weak and thin legs. After ten to twelve months, he becomes independent.

How long do donkeys live? The life expectancy of domestic donkeys does not exceed thirty-five years, and this is with good care of them. Wild donkeys live much less. Their life expectancy ranges from ten to twenty-five years.

At the moment, there are very few wild donkeys left. In this regard, they were listed in the Red Book. And to increase the number of donkeys, they began to breed in special nurseries and zoos.

Here we are with you and found out how the donkey differs from the donkey. And found out that a donkey is no different from a donkey, perhaps a habitat. The donkey lives in the wild with an arid climate. A donkey is the same donkey, but a domestic one that lives next to people and helps them in agriculture. And in return he receives food and care.

1. Pregnancy in donkeys lasts 12-14 months. As a rule, a donkey mother gives birth to 1 colt. Feeds milk for up to a year. Within a couple of weeks after birth, the foal begins to eat roughage.

2. The height of an adult animal is 90-163 cm. The donkey reaches this height at the age of two.

3. Animals become sexually mature at the age of 2-2.5 years. Life expectancy is 25-35 years. But it can live up to 45 years.

4. Features of the content - a few words about hooves

Most of all afraid of moisture. A dry climate is best for donkeys. Humidity is categorically contraindicated, hooves are very vulnerable. They are more resistant to rocky soils, not as vulnerable as a horse. But on the other hand, they do not tolerate wet conditions at all. If you keep a donkey at home in the northern regions, then this point should be taken into account, not frosts are terrible, but humidity.

5. How to feed?

A donkey eats like an average goat: hay, heads of corn ...

For the stall period, 300 kg of feed per animal is required

For a long time, hardy and strong animals can do without food and water.

6. Benefit

In addition to the fact that donkeys can be used as a labor force, they also provide super healthy milk. As much milk as a goat.

In France, donkeys are kept specifically for milk - they use it as a cosmetic product. The fat content of donkey milk is 11.8%, it has high bactericidal properties.

7. Character

Absolutely harmless animals, they understand the boundaries of their lands well and never try to wander into someone else's territory.

8. Donkeys are not horses; they differ from them both in the structure of the body (the number of vertebrae) and in the number of chromosomes. That is why the offspring obtained from crossing horses and donkeys are not fertile.

a mule is when mom is a horse, father is a donkey

mule is when dad is a horse and mom is a donkey

9. The tail of a donkey is similar in structure not to a horse's, but to a cow's: with a tassel.

10. We are accustomed to the fact that donkeys are gray, in fact, they are black, brown, and even white.

RUB 20,000-50,000

Domestic donkey or ass(Equus asinus)

Class - mammals
Squad - equids

Family - equines

Rod - horses

Appearance

Depending on the breed, donkeys can be 90-163 cm tall, the height of thoroughbred donkeys can vary from the size of a pony to the size of a good horse. The largest are the representatives of the Poatus (140-155 cm) and Catalan (135-163 cm) breeds. The weight of adult animals is from 200 to 400 kg. The color of donkeys depends on the breed.

The donkey has 31 pairs of chromosomes. Pulse 45-55 beats per minute. Respiratory rate is 10-15 respiratory movements per minute. Body temperature 37.5-38.5 ° C. Donkeys have only 5 lumbar vertebrae (horse has 6).

Tail with a tassel at the end, like a cow.

Characteristics

The donkey differs from its larger relatives in that it tolerates the lack of food and water much easier. It feeds on herbaceous and shrubby vegetation. These animals do not tolerate dampness and need dry rooms in winter.

Reproduction

The donkey mating season lasts mainly from February to July. In the first mating, animals are allowed from three years old. Hunting in a donkey is determined by its behavior: it lowers its head, hangs its ears, opens its mouth, slaps its lips, throws out saliva, often urinates. This continues for an average of five days.

The female usually happens on the second day after hunting is discovered. If fertilization has not occurred, the next hunt will come in 20-25 days. It is undesirable to skip it. And that's why. After foaling, not all queens ask for a male, and they do not always cover immediately. Many donkeys have a delay in hunting. It turns out that the donkeys the next year can be born 1-1.5 months later. And later babies are more difficult to raise. If the donkey got foaled in July, then it is already unprofitable to happen immediately. Better to overexpose and cover in January-February next year.

The sexual activity of brood donkeys is lower than that of stallions. With good feeding, a donkey can be given a load of 30 females per season, more than two females should not be allowed per day. The manufacturer can work at full load only from 4 years. Donkeys are generally small moths, and especially in the breeding season. By the end of this time, they noticeably lose weight. For "body correction" they need to be given some easily digestible feed - oats and bran, 3-4 kg each.

Feeding and sucking uterus need increased attention. Two to three weeks before giving birth, they are released from work, otherwise they may have an abortion.

12-13 months after fertilization, the donkey usually gives birth to one well-developed baby, which she feeds with milk for about 8 months. The newborn is placed in a warm, dry room, protected from drafts.

Two weeks after giving birth, the uterus can be started up for light work. At first, she cannot be separated from the baby for more than three hours, he needs to suck more often than this period. If you take the donkey with you, the transitions and trips should be no more than 20 km, so as not to tire the sucker. 10-12 days after birth, the colt is released into the pasture together with its mother, but it is desirable that there be a canopy there from the hot sun.

Usually donkeys are cheerful, playful and easily get used to humans. But if the owner decides to separate them from their mother, then he will meet fierce resistance from both sides. Donkey, are always very brave and ready to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the cub.

In the first months, feeding the donkey is not necessary. But the mother must be dairy. In addition, the sucker is gradually taught to take feed from the parent's feeder. Breeding donkeys from the age of three months are fed with crushed barley or oats. Some owners leave the sucker under an already pregnant uterus until the next foal, but this is not desirable. In the uterus, milk production decreases, and the developing fetus does not receive enough nutrients.

Donkeys are usually taken away in winter and then they are better fed, given concentrates and good hay. And 2-3 weeks before weaning, the sucker is fed at the rate of 100-200 g of crushed barley per day. If the colt is not very well-fed, it is useful for him to additionally give 1-2 handfuls of chopped flaxseed cake.

After weaning, the baby is put in a feeder 0.5 kg of crushed barley and 1-2 kg of good hay, preferably alfalfa. By spring, the hay rate is increased to 2.5 kg. With the advent of grass, year-old donkeys are transferred to green fodder. If grazing is very bad, they give additional feeding. By that time, one and a half year old donkeys are fed at least 2 kg of alfalfa hay, 2 kg of bran and 0.75 kg of crushed barley per day. With the onset of spring, two-year-olds are again transferred to pasture, and in the fall - to the diet of adult animals. With this method of cultivation, cheap pasture fodder is used more fully, and costs for hay and concentrates are reduced. Donkeys grow well and by the age of three they become fully developed, efficient. Their milk teeth change at the same time as those of foals.

They often start working on young donkeys earlier, from 1.5-2 years old. However, then they lag behind in development and, moreover, can damage the spine. Only when they reach 2.5 years are donkeys gradually drawn into work. And already at 3 years old they are able to regularly transport some kind of light cargo.

Donkeys eat the same thing as horses - oats, barley, corn, bran, cake, any hay, straw cutting, corn stalks. For 100 kg of body weight, with light work, they need 1.25 feed units, including 80 g of digestible protein. With an average work, 1.6 and 100, respectively, with a heavy one - 2.1 and 150. (Recall, 1 feed unit equals 1 kg of oats.) If you work on a donkey 2-3 days a week, you can keep it only on pasture. But already with an average load, grain feed is desirable, and with a heavy load, the diet should be generally enhanced (2 kg of straw mixed with 1 kg of wheat bran, 2 kg of alfalfa hay and 1-2 kg of crushed barley).

If the animal does not "lose its body", then feeding is in order. As soon as it begins to lose weight, the diet should be revised. It is very important to follow the daily routine.

The volume of the stomach of a donkey is small, so it is fed 3-4 times a day. You can't drink it hot after work. However, a non-watered donkey does not eat rough food well, and it is dangerous to feed grain with water, so the donkey must be watered 0.5-1 hours before the end of work, and then let the animal cool down.

A donkey's working day can be 8-10 hours with a break for lunch and rest.

For a small animal (up to 100 cm in height) a pack weighing 60 kg will be normal, for larger animals it is possible to load up to 100 kg, but a day trip with such a load should not be more than 35 km.

Life expectancy is 25-35 years. Centenarians who live up to 45-47 years are extremely rare.

Donkeys, thanks to their charming faces and gentle, intelligent nature, are wonderful pets. They undeservedly gained a reputation for stubborn animals, in reality, they are just quick-witted and observant. Donkeys require several acres of space, dry shelter to sleep in, and plenty of fiber to eat. If you take good care of your donkey, it can live for over 30 years. Skip to step 1 of this article for information on how to keep your donkey healthy and long lasting.

Steps

Choosing a donkey and handling it correctly

Choose a donkey that is the right size, gender, and temperament. It is very important to take these factors into account when choosing a donkey. Males and females of donkeys have different temperaments, there are also miniature, standard and giant donkeys, representatives of the latter of which are as large as horses. Before you decide to buy a donkey, decide which type of donkey is best for your needs.

• If you plan on keeping a donkey as a pet, choose a neutered male or a donkey (female).
• If you are planning to breed donkeys, you will need a full-fledged male and one or more donkeys. Do not purchase a non-castrated donkey if you only need a pet, and do not keep an undamaged male with other males, as they will fight.
• If you plan to ride a donkey, make sure the animal is large enough to support your weight. The donkey can safely carry loads weighing 20% ​​of its own weight.
• If you plan to use the donkey as a guardian against predators such as wolves and dogs, choose the standard or giant donkey variety rather than the miniature one. It is important that the donkey is larger than the predator.

1. Make sure the donkey is already trained in basic skills. If this is your first time dealing with donkeys, you need to choose an animal that knows how to get up and walk on a leash without resistance. You should also make sure that the donkey can safely tolerate human touch anywhere on its body and allow it to lift its legs so that it is not a problem. It can be a little difficult to train donkeys, so if you don’t have any experience in this business, it’s a good idea to choose a donkey that is flexible enough.

   If possible, purchase more than one animal, but several. Donkeys are extremely sociable and upset if they have to graze alone. Your donkey will be significantly happier if it has a companion. Good companions for each other are two females, two castrated males, or a castrated male and female. Donkeys are very strongly attached to their companions for life, they will not want to go anywhere without each other.

   • Donkeys can become attached to horses, but if you plan to ride a horse somewhere without a donkey, it is not advisable to allow the donkey to become too close to the horse. The donkey will get upset when you pick up the horse from the pasture. Better to keep them in separate rooms.
   • Donkeys have very specific dietary needs, and when housed with other animal species tend to gain weight and feel unwell.
   • Dogs and donkeys are bad company for each other, unless they grew up together from early childhood.

2. Treat the donkey with affection. Donkeys should not be severely punished. Practice affection and patience when trying to lead them on a leash or teach them something new. They are not stubborn, but they need time to understand the situation before making choices about what to do; they do not like to be rushed or forced. Stroke the donkey, talk to him in a soothing tone of voice, do not raise your voice or use force.

   Provide the donkey with daily physical activity. Donkeys need daily exercise to stay fit and healthy. They can get it on their own if they have a sufficiently large pasture on which they can move freely. You can also take the donkey for long walks on a leash. Remember that donkey riding is a bad idea unless the animal is large enough to support your weight.

   • In winter, provide the donkey with additional physical activity. If you have to lock your donkey indoors during the winter, you need to take it out for walks every few days to keep it under the stress it needs. Ideal if you can let the donkey roam freely in the barn between outdoor walks. If the donkey does not like snow, do not force him to go outside, provide him with an alternative type of indoor load. If you want to, wear a blanket on the donkey during winter walks to prevent colds; donkeys can get pneumonia or bronchitis if exposed to rain or very cold weather.

   Providing shelter and food

   1. The main sources of food for donkeys should be low in sugar and rich in fiber. Barley straw (plant stems left over after harvest) is an excellent choice as the donkey can happily chew it for hours without the risk of gaining excess weight.

      Donkeys need to eat little and often (like other horses); they do not feel well if fed in large portions in one go, for example, giving a bucket of food in the morning and evening. Also, you should not feed your donkey any cereal or grains such as oats, barley, wheat and corn. Such food is too rich in starch and sugar and leads to the development of a number of diseases in donkeys, for example, laminitis, and is also a cause of obesity.

      Donkeys are happiest when they have large pastures to roam and graze on, which they do most of the time. It is difficult to say how much grass is required for a pair of donkeys, as the habit of picking grass varies greatly among animals. Grass should be considered a supplement to the straw and not constitute the bulk of the donkey's diet.

      An unpaved paddock or grass-free area, such as a concrete or sandy area, is a great alternative to luxurious pastures. Donkeys constantly need to chew on something, so make sure to provide them with the necessary amount of straw so that it is always available.

      • In winter, when the grass is withering away, or at a time of year when there is not enough grass, you can supplement the donkey's diet with meadow hay. The hay must be of good quality, that is, clean, well dried and not moldy; Late-harvest hay may be a better option; it is richer in fiber and poorer in sugar. Avoid using alfalfa hay unless you have a pregnant or nursing donkey, or an animal with special needs. Make sure the hay is fresh and not spoiled, or your donkey can get sick. If you can afford it, get some chaff with various additives, for example, to improve the condition of hooves, skins, and so on; you can explore the options you have in more detail. Myakina is suitable for elderly animals with dental problems, convalescent animals and lactating donkeys.
      • Be careful not to overfeed your donkey. Donkeys develop life-threatening diseases when they eat too much protein and other nutrient-dense foods. Donkeys are native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa. As a result, they can get all the nutrients they need from lean and fiber-rich pastures. When the grass is too nutritious or grows abundantly (for example, in dairy pastures or horse pastures), you may need to limit the grazing area of ​​donkeys to prevent them from eating too much grass and gaining excess weight. Installing a safe mobile electric fence will allow you to limit the amount of grazing land and the amount of grass that donkeys can eat. Change the location of the fence regularly to give the donkeys a chance to nibble on fresh grass.

   2. Give donkeys a suitable treat. As mentioned earlier, donkeys tend to gain weight, so be careful with treats. Give no more than a handful of treats at a time. For this, apples, carrots and bananas (along with the skin) are ideal. Leftovers from your table would be a bad idea, as donkeys have trouble digesting any cabbage plant (like broccoli, cauliflower, etc.), potatoes, onions, and more. Fresh or dried mint leaves are a great treat. Donkeys need a simple, healthy diet, and that doesn't include things like toasted bread, cookies, or cakes. Do not give donkeys highly processed, sweet human foods and horse treats.

      Donkeys are herbivores, so they should not be given anything meat or fish.

      Ask your veterinarian about dietary supplements; they can be recommended depending on the type of soil in a particular region. Here are some supplements your veterinarian may recommend.

      Provide the donkey with clean, fresh water. Set up a trough or bucket for the water and make sure that there is always fresh, unfinished water in it. Make sure that the container does not leak onto the floor of the donkey's room as its hooves need a dry environment. Remember to check that the water is not frozen in winter; otherwise, you will need to constantly remove the crust of ice or install a water tank with a water heater. Elderly donkeys will especially appreciate the opportunity to drink warm water during the winter.

      Provide dry shelter with hard floors for your donkey. Donkeys come from a desert climate. They prefer warmer weather, but are very hardy if kept properly. Donkeys don't like wind and rain, so they need shelter from both. Unlike the case with horses, rainwater is absorbed into the donkey's skin and makes their life miserable. A donkey house does not have to be luxurious, it just needs to be adequate in size and provide the protection the animal needs. Donkeys have porous hooves that can get sick if they are in wet conditions for too long.

      • In temperate climates, provide at least three-walled shelter with adequate floor space to keep out rain and wind. This could be a shed, a stall, or even a small shed. Cover floors with straw for comfort and warmth, especially during colder seasons.
      • In climates with harsh winters (freezing temperatures, freezing water, snow falling and snowstorms), you should provide a full-fledged barn for the donkey. The barn must be well protected from the elements; Sew up any holes that can get drafts to prevent the donkey from catching a cold. The shed for the winter keeping of the animal must be large enough to provide him with physical activity in case the donkey does not want to go out at all in the winter, while there is snow on the ground.

   3. If you decide to use a blanket for your donkey in winter (in severe frosts or for an elderly animal), do not forget to take it off regularly every day to check for possible scuffs on the skin.

      Keep the feeding area clean. To avoid possible contamination of diseases or worms, always keep the donkey feeding area clean. Remove dirt, wash feed buckets daily, and keep hay in a wall-mounted hanging basket instead of on the floor. Keep the area clean by cleaning at least every other day, removing manure and hay scraps. Spray the floor and walls of the room with water and then let them dry completely before starting the donkey back inside.

      Enclose the area with a solid fence. To keep the donkey in a confined area and protect it from predators such as wolves and dogs, or from rash attempts by the animal to break through the fence, build a solid fence around the area allocated for the donkey. Donkeys are smart enough and will definitely find a way to get out, if not install a good solid fence around their grazing and shelter area. The fence should be at least as high as the shoulders of the donkey.

   Donkey health care

   Brush your donkey regularly. The best way to keep your pet clean is to use the brush every day. Donkeys do not like getting wet, so there is no need to douse them with water or bathe them. Daily brushing and cleaning the hooves of dirt will be sufficient.

   Keep hooves dry and trimmed. Donkey hooves grow back just like human nails, so they need to be cleaned from time to time so they don't grow back too much and don't crack. Allow an experienced farrier to trim the hooves at the correct angle, which is approximately 60-65 degrees. Donkey hooves should be trimmed approximately every 8 weeks.

   Check your teeth for sharp edges. Donkeys' teeth also constantly grow and grind when they chew food. A donkey's teeth should be examined annually by an equestrian dentist, regardless of your assessment of their condition. The jaw of a donkey is quite long, so you yourself cannot understand what is happening in its depth without special tools. The dentist will check the condition of the farthest teeth and make sure that the donkey has fully functioning teeth, and that nothing prevents him from eating food, and also does not cause constant pain.

   • A donkey with bad teeth may be happier on a diet of chaff or wet mash, avoiding the need to chew too much grass or hay. Consult your veterinarian for the best option.

   1. Get vaccinated on time. Donkeys are hardy and hardly get sick. They are required to be vaccinated annually against tetanus, flu and distemper. Other vaccinations to consider, depending on where you live, include rabies, encephalitis, and West Nile fever.

      Donkeys, like horses, can develop worms. Both horses and donkeys have suffered greatly from the overuse of anthelmintic drugs in the past, so the drugs are now becoming less and less effective. The situation is quite complicated, but, definitely, it is impossible to adhere to the unreasonable use of anthelmintic drugs. Donkeys and horses should have feces taken four times a year to be tested for worms and only then should proper treatment be prescribed if necessary. Your veterinarian will provide you with treatment recommendations, and ask him when you need to be retested to make sure the treatment is effective.

      Keeping the pasture as clean as possible from manure will also help to break the life cycle of worms, as they need to live a certain amount of time outside the animal carrier before it becomes infected. Minimizing the amount of worm larvae eaten by the animal is a practical way to control the number of worms in your donkey. Experience has shown that collecting manure at least three times a week significantly reduces the number of worms in the pasture.

   • If your donkey is bothered by insects, ask your veterinarian for a suitable repellent. Lice, which like to hide in the long hair of a donkey, can sometimes be a problem. Donkeys, which are irritated by lice, usually rub against walls and fences to relieve itching, which over time leads to bald patches.
   • If you want to put your donkey on a weight loss diet, do so only on the advice of your veterinarian. Donkeys need roughage every day to keep their bowels moving, and if they don't get them they can get sick.
   • Spend a lot of time with your donkey.
   • Donkeys often develop strong relationships with children and people with disabilities. If you live on a farm or have a large area of ​​land, consider this when choosing the perfect companion animal. Therapeutic donkey riding is often used to help people with disabilities, and real friendships develop between the rider and the donkey. If you have the time to open your farm doors on weekends for such people in need of help, this can be a great pastime for your donkey or donkeys.
   • Donkeys live longer than horses, usually 30-40 years, therefore, given their lifespan, they are companions for life.
   • Donkeys should not be expected to tolerate winter weather, although they can occasionally be allowed out into the fresh air if they do not mind (some of them hate snow, others just hate it). If you let your donkey out into the snow to warm up, shake the snow off the animal when you return to the barn so that it doesn't melt and cause the donkey to get a cold. A donkey's skin cannot withstand rain and melting snow.
   • This article is just a general quick guide to caring for donkeys; for more information on specific concerns or questions, contact your veterinarian or the online donkey care communities.
   • Learn more about donkeys. Browse the Internet or borrow books from the library to learn about the different types of donkeys, their characteristics, possible diseases and other interesting information. It is impossible to know too much about your favorite animal.
   • Alfalfa hay is not suitable for donkeys because of its nutritional value. For the well-being of the donkey, it is best to use timothy or other herb hay.
   • In the past, donkeys have been used as companions for nervous racehorses to calm them down, and as companions for newly weaned foals to help them cope with loneliness. One can only marvel at this patient calm animal that is so sympathetic; but one should not forget about the loneliness of the donkey itself, which is subsequently abandoned by a calmed horse or a foal that has passed into adulthood. Donkeys develop strong attachments to their companions, and when given the chance, this bond is often established for life.

   Warnings

   • People love stroking donkeys. If you are worried that people are approaching your donkey and feeding it the wrong food, post a clearly visible sign with a warning sign that feeding the animal is prohibited.
   • Teach the donkey to stand still so that the blacksmith can examine it, including teaching it that people can lift its legs. Do not let the blacksmith put the donkey down to inspect the hooves, this is not necessary and frustrates the animal.
   • Don't let anyone mistreat your donkey. Donkeys are gentle creatures; never pull their ears or try to offend them in any other way. If you have adopted an animal that suffered in your previous life, it will take you a lot of time and effort to gain its trust; usually, if animals are mistreated, they become nervous, shy and fearful. This is not their natural state, therefore it is very painful to see a donkey in such a state. Challenge this and try to remedy the situation by seeking the help of professional organizations if necessary.
   • If your donkey has stopped eating or is eating very little, this is an important sign that he needs IMMEDIATE veterinary attention to determine the cause.
   • Many plants are poisonous to donkeys, their list is too long to list here, however, the most dangerous of them are as follows:
     • fresh or dried ragweed;
     • acorns and oak leaves;
     • leaves of a sycamore or maple.

Answers to questions about donkeys. November 27th, 2009

Answers to questions about donkeys.

Marishka
Please excuse me for the stupid question, but what use do you find for donkeys in your farm and do they duplicate the functions of a horse in the farm? If it's easy, write in more detail about donkeys and how to handle them, how much feed you need, where did you buy them.

I will write a detailed answer that will answer not only these, but also other questions.

There is no ready answer to the question whether you need donkeys or horses. Before adopting draft animals, you need to decide how you will use them. I planned to use draft animals like this:
- cargo transportation
- sale of young animals
- rental

Cargo transportation.
I planned to carry building materials during construction (sand, clay), as well as firewood from the forest. The distances are not great, everything is close by. There is no need to carry tons. It's easier for me to go twice. So a horse for these purposes can be considered overly powerful. A donkey can do this job quite well.

Sale of young animals. Based on these considerations, a mare was purchased. True, it is a big problem for her to find a groom in the village. I must say that in our village, my horse was the first in the last ten years. Now, looking at me and others, they began to buy horses. I don’t like to depend on others. After thinking about the problem, I found two ways out. Get a stallion or get a donkey in the expectation of a mule. The donkey was more expensive, but keeping it cheaper, so I opted for a donkey. Considering various offers, I considered it expedient to buy a pair - a donkey and a donkey. As a result, together with the delivery of the steam, it cost me 16 thousand UAH. (about 2 thousand US dollars) I would like to emphasize that the prices for donkeys in Russia are SIGNIFICANTLY lower. But I have not found other, more suitable options. So far I have not seen a donkey or a horse. Perhaps the donkey covered the donkey, because Mary no longer flirts with Gray and her belly has grown significantly, I cannot grab it. I hope that soon we will have a little donkey. I plan to sell the born animals.

Rental.
By rental, I mean both hired cargo transportation, it is cheaper to carry a horse than a car, so I will take my niche, as well as horse rental. My village is located in a resort area, so there is an effective demand. In addition, I am preparing a place for guests who will also be able to use donkeys or horse riding.

These were my considerations, guided by which I acquired not only a horse, but also donkeys.

Now I will answer the questions in more detail. Donkeys really duplicate the functions of a horse. If you plan to use them on the farm, calculate the amount of work. Donkeys are very promising animals for small farms. As I wrote above, for me in most cases the horse is too powerful.

I can hardly write anything interesting about donkeys in more detail. I did not find any literature on keeping these animals. The experience gained was not systematized.

My donkeys are three-legged. The parents are different, this can be seen from the color, thickness of the skin, so inbreeding does not threaten us. Donkeys are cute animals, they have their own character, but they seem inhibited to me. Although some cases prove otherwise. They were absolutely wild and shied away from us. I had to put them on bagels. I had to spend some time to get them to taste what it is. Further, since I could reward or punish the animal, it became easier. I fed donkeys as well as goats. All that they have is for the donkeys. If the goats did not eat something, the donkeys would chew. For testing, I fed them all kinds of grass that none of the other animals would eat. These ate almost everything. They eat very funny. They will take a small piece in their mouth and chew for a long time. I even protected them from goats for the first time, I thought they could not keep up with them. The donkey will take the barley in its mouth and chew, and the goats have crouched to the trough and eat it without stopping. They eat by chewing food thoroughly. You give an apple to a horse, it is crumbling and chews. If you give it to a goat, it will bite off the rest a couple of times and stuff it into its mouth and chew. You give the donkey, he will bite it off until a small piece remains. This is how they eat corn. First, the bast, then the leaves, then they gnaw the grains, then they gnaw the cob. And all this is so leisurely. Now the donkeys have learned to defend themselves against the goats, so it's okay. According to my estimates, they eat 5-7 kg of hay.

I tried to clean the frog for them without any preparation - I even managed to clean the hind hooves, such a number would not have worked with a horse. I have a mare with a temper, if not in the spirit, it is very difficult to clean these at any moment, even if they suddenly do not want to, until it reaches them, I have already finished everything. The smell from donkeys is "not native". I don't know how to explain, but they don't smell like our spirit. Unlike horses, donkeys break the chain regularly. If one of them remains tied, the second does not go far, but if both are untied, then they run away. They run fast.

I tried to ride around on horseback. Much easier than with a horse. And he put on the bridle after a little resistance, and almost did not try to throw it off. His attempts to throw off are only amusing. The horse is much more difficult. You seem to be sitting on it tightly. Quiet calm. Suddenly bam is already on the ground. You don't even have time to understand why. It's good if you haven't let go of the occasion. And the donkey does not really jump. And yet, I’m probably too heavy for him, because he doesn’t even try to dump the child.

In general, donkeys, animals are not noisy. But they shout loudly. When the donkeys screamed for the first time, the dogs quieted down, they didn't hear that, and then they started barking. Now they are used to it, and donkeys behave quietly, screaming only when they want to eat, or if they walked up to the barn and didn’t come to them. Then they begin to breathe noisily, then they get louder, louder, and if they don't come in, they start yelling.

Another observation, possibly erroneous, but I got the impression that they lay the heaps under the walls, it turns out very neatly.

I bought donkeys after searching on the Internet. Stopped at the Crimean nursery. It turned out the cheapest, although the price of course bites. If we take younger animals, then the price is half the price. And given that the content is not onerous, this might be the best option.