Academic literature on the topic 'Feral donkeys'

Recent removal and relocation of feral donkeys from vast public lands to more concentrated holding pens, training facilities, and offsite adoption locations raises several health and welfare concerns. Very little is known regarding the common equid pathogens that are circulating within the feral donkey population in and around Death Valley National Park, California, USA. The aim of this study was to utilize serologic assays to assess previous exposure of these donkeys to equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), equine influenza (EIV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Borrelia burgdorferi (the causative agent of Lyme disease). The results of this study indicate that this feral equid population is mostly naïve and likely susceptible to these common equid pathogens upon removal from the wild.

Feral donkey removal from state land has raised concerns in terms of disease transmission between equine species. Disease outbreaks may occur as a result of the relocation of animals to new environments. Virus and bacteria DNA load and serum amyloid A derived from the pathogenic processes that they involve were measured in recently captured donkeys. Blood and nasal swabs were collected from 85 donkeys (Death Valley National Park, Shoshone, California); 24 were retested after 30/60 days in the Scenic (Arizona) long-term holding facility co-mingled with feral donkeys from Arizona and Utah. Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) was performed to detect viral and bacterial genomic material (equine influenza A [EIV], equine rhinitis A and B viruses, AHV-2, AHV-3, AHV-5 and EHV-1, EHV-4, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and zooepidemicus,). Significant relations between behavior, body condition score, nasal discharge, and coughing were found in donkeys for which AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus DNA was detected. Higher SAA concentrations were found in foals. AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus DNA concentrations significantly differed between sampling moments (p < 0.05). In conclusion, donkeys do not appear to be a substantial risk for disease transmission to horses but could be if they carried strangles or other processes in which AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were involved.

This study pointed to explore if variations in circulating levels of metabolites in the blood stream of no. 25 feral donkeys occur in view of the different coat color between specimens of Asinara (albino, no. 8) vs. Sardo (dun-grey, no. 17) breed. All individuals involved in this investigation are living in the nature, at Mediterranean latitudes and roam in the same areas all over the National Park of Capo Caccia, where they feed on spontaneous vegetation sources. The study was conducted during the positive photoperiod of the boreal hemisphere (peak in the month of June, 2019) to maximize the effect of exposure to the natural sun radiation and thus elicit the coping ability of albino (Asinara) in comparison with pigmented donkeys (Sardo). The biochemical profile of all donkeys was used in a Discriminant Analysis (DA) to explore if circulating levels of metabolites could point to metabolic markers for breed assignment of individuals following a canonical discriminant analysis (CANDISC). The biochemical investigation included also the determination of the circulating Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol, α-TOH), as an essential biologically active compound involved in antioxidant mechanisms, and its respective status (circulating α-TOH to total triglycerides and total cholesterol ratio). In the CANDISC, the distance between the two breeds was not significant. However, it pointed to different metabolites (UREA, total protein, total triglycerides, Zn) capable of describing biochemical patterns on each respective breed (Asinara vs. Sardo). The multivariate analysis DA carried out using 22 metabolites correctly assigned individuals to the two breeds in the 100% of cases. In view of such metabolic background, circulating α-TOH found in the bloodstream of Asinara vs. Sardo donkeys under free grazing conditions turned out to reach similar values (2.114 vs. 1.872 µg/ml, respectively, p = 0.676). It is worth noting that significant differences were observed as to circulating lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, p = 0.022) levels, in association with increased creatine phosphokinase (CPK, p = 0.076), both above the upper limit of the physiological range reported in other donkey breeds, and found in the totality of Asinara (albino) donkeys solely, still apparently clinically healthy.

Megafauna play important roles in the biosphere, yet little is known about how they shape dryland ecosystems. We report on an overlooked form of ecosystem engineering by donkeys and horses. In the deserts of North America, digging of ≤2-meter wells to groundwater by feral equids increased the density of water features, reduced distances between waters, and, at times, provided the only water present. Vertebrate richness and activity were higher at equid wells than at adjacent dry sites, and, by mimicking flood disturbance, equid wells became nurseries for riparian trees. Our results suggest that equids, even those that are introduced or feral, are able to buffer water availability, which may increase resilience to ongoing human-caused aridification.

Feral and domestic livestock (buffalo, cattle, horses and donkeys) were censused by fixed-wing aerial survey over the 'Top End' of the Northern Territory (above the 16th parallel) in March-April 1985, encompassing 233 672 km2 (16.7% of the Territory). The mean sampling rate on the major coastal lowland (38 281 km2) was 7.3%, and that for the rest was 3.7%. The accuracy of population estimates was improved by applying habitat-specific visibility correction factors to animals counted in groups.

(1) Rate of increase was measured for feral donkey populations in parts of northern Australia as the average exponential rate of increase, r, in a population subjected to substantial reduction. (2) The annual rate of increase was estimated to be r = 0.21. This estimate was compared with the exponential rate of increase in another recovering donkey population and found to be in close agreement. (3) Ultimate and proximate factors regulating the abundance of feral donkey populations were examined by monitoring and sampling two populations; one at or close to equilibrium density, the other below equilibrium density and recovering from reduction. (4) The size of the population at equilibrium density remained stable over the 12 months of monitoring while the size of the recovering population increased by 20 percent (r = 0.18/yr). (5) Growth and body condition were significantly depressed in the population at equilibrium density suggesting that donkey populations are limited by the food resources available to them. (6) Breeding occured over a discrete season, with births occurring between September and February. 11 (7) Fecundity was high, with more than 75 percent of mature females breeding in each year, and was independent of population density. (8) Adult and juvenile mortality were density dependent, with mortality over the first six months of life the most important demographic factor influencing rate of increase in donkey populations, and hence population abundance. (9) Implications of the estimated rate of population increase for the cost of long-term control of feral donkey populations were examined by constructing numerical models predicting the relative cost of ongoing control. (10) These models were constructed using functions to describe density dependent variation in population productivity and the cost per donkey removed. (11) The cost of removing donkeys at various population densities was estimated using predator-prey theory. The cost, measured in hours of helicopter time per removal, was found theoretically and empirically to take the form of an inverted functional response curve, with cost saturated at high donkey densities. (12) The utility of models predicting the cost of continuing pest control is illustrated by comparing the relative costs of two potential strategies for feral donkey control.

The objective of these studies was to develop near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy calibration equations from diet-fecal pair datasets to predict the diet quality and intake of donkeys. One hundred-forty diet-fecal pair samples were generated from two independent in vivo feeding trials conducted in the United States (N = 100) and Africa (N = 40). At each site, ten female donkeys were fed mixed diets blended from 25 forage and crop residues. The modified partial least square model (MPLS) was used to develop calibration equations for crude protein (CP), digestible organic matter (DOM), dry matter digestibility (DDM) and organic matter digestibility (OMD), for the US, Africa and US/Africa combined datasets, and dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake calibrations from the US datasets. Crude protein (CP) equations were developed with standard error of calibration (SEC) < 1.0 and coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.90, (SEL = 0.5). The US, US/Africa and Africa CP equations had SEC value of 0.77, 0.97 and 0.88 with corresponding R2 of 0.97, 0.95 and 0.88, respectively. Validation of the US CP equation resulted in a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 1.79 with corresponding coefficient of correlation (r2) of 0.82 and slope of 0.84 indicating high accuracy of prediction. In vivo derived DOM equations were also developed for the US, Africa and US/Africa datasets with SEC values of 2.58, 4.91 and 3.52, and R2 of 0.60, 0.81 and 0.84, respectively. In addition, the SEC and R2 values were 3.25 and 0.72 for US OMD, 3.28 and 0.79 for US DDM, and 4.2 and 0.85 for US/Africa OMD, and 4.3 and 0.87 for US/Africa DDM equation, respectively. Calibration equations for predicting DMI and OMI have resulted in SEC values of 3.45 and 3.21 (g/kgw0.75) and R2 values of 0.89 and 0.84, respectively. The present study explored the relationship between DMI and diet quality attributes. Crude protein and digestible organic matter to crude protein ration (DOM/CP) with r2 values of 0.60 and 0.39, respectively, have shown good correlations with intake. The present studies have confirmed the potential for the fecal NIRS profiling for predicting CP, DOM, DDM, OMD, DMI and OMI of donkeys. Both calibration and validation results have indicated that the present donkey equations were comparable to previously developed equations for ruminants; they have the capability for accurate prediction of diet quality and intake, and can be a useful tool for monitoring the nutritional well-being of donkeys with acceptable accuracy. Research works to further expand the present calibration equations with additional diet-fecal samples particularly from Africa that did not meet the required accuracy level is recommended.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)
Objetivou-se com este estudo analisar a morfologia placentária de fêmeas asininas, espécie, cuja importância no meio rural é de inestimável valor, sendo poucas as informações detalhadas sobre sua placenta, “órgão” imprescindível à viabilidade fetal e a interação materno-fetal, mediante estudo macroscópico, microscópico e de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, os quais, exceto a macroscopia, foram realizados também na interação materno-fetal (útero-placentária). Para tanto, utilizaram-se onze fêmeas desta espécie e foram colhidas 11 placentas logo após a parição a campo, no instante de sua liberação, além de fragmentos de uma placenta oriunda de uma dessas 11 fêmeas, que teve sua gestação acompanhada por duas vezes. Assim, na primeira delas realizou-se operação cesariana e fragmentos da interação materno-fetal foram colhidos; parte deles fixados para posterior processamento usual em histologia e, outra parte, fixada e processada para análise à microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Sua segunda gestação foi acompanhada até o momento da parição e a liberação da placenta após parto normal, sendo colhida na íntegra. Após a colheita, as onze placentas foram pesadas, analisadas macroscopicamente e alguns fragmentos placentários fixados para subseqüente processamento usual em histologia; outros fragmentos foram fixados convenientemente para posterior processamento à microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Das peças analisadas e das preparações microscópicas e ultraestruturais, foram realizadas fotografias, fotomicrografias e ultrafotografias para a documentação. Verificou-se que o valor médio dos pesos dos jumentos, como os pesos das placentas, em relação aos neonatos foi de 8.36.1.10 e 13,18% respectivamente...
The objective of this study was analyzing the placental morphology of female asinines, species whose importance in the rural area is priceless, being little the detailed information about their placenta, vital “organ” to fetal viability and maternal fetal interaction, upon macroscopic, microscopic study, and scanning electron microscopy, which, except the macroscopy, were performed also in the maternal fetal interaction (placental-uterus). Therefore, eleven females of this species were used and eleven placentae were collected right after the calving down at field, in the instant of their release, besides the placenta fragments of one of these eleven females, which had its gestation followed-up twice. Thus, in the first of them, a caesarian operation was performed and fragments of the maternal fetal interaction were collected; part of them fixed for future usual processing in histology and, the other part, fixed and processed for analyses to scanning electron microscopy. Its second gestation was followed up until the moment of calving and the liberation of the placenta after the normal calving, being collected at full. After being collected, the eleven placentae were weighed, analyzed macroscopically and some placental fragments fixed for later usual processing in histology; other fragments were fixed conveniently for future processing to scanning electron microscopy. Among the analyzed pieces and the microscopic and ultra structural preparations, photographs, photomicrographs and ultra photographs were taken for the documentation. It was found that the average weights of the donkeys, as the weights of the placentae, in relation to the neonates were 8.36.1.10 and 13.18% respectively... (Coplete abstract click electronic access below)

Resumo: Objetivou-se com este estudo analisar a morfologia placentária de fêmeas asininas, espécie, cuja importância no meio rural é de inestimável valor, sendo poucas as informações detalhadas sobre sua placenta, "órgão" imprescindível à viabilidade fetal e a interação materno-fetal, mediante estudo macroscópico, microscópico e de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, os quais, exceto a macroscopia, foram realizados também na interação materno-fetal (útero-placentária). Para tanto, utilizaram-se onze fêmeas desta espécie e foram colhidas 11 placentas logo após a parição a campo, no instante de sua liberação, além de fragmentos de uma placenta oriunda de uma dessas 11 fêmeas, que teve sua gestação acompanhada por duas vezes. Assim, na primeira delas realizou-se operação cesariana e fragmentos da interação materno-fetal foram colhidos; parte deles fixados para posterior processamento usual em histologia e, outra parte, fixada e processada para análise à microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Sua segunda gestação foi acompanhada até o momento da parição e a liberação da placenta após parto normal, sendo colhida na íntegra. Após a colheita, as onze placentas foram pesadas, analisadas macroscopicamente e alguns fragmentos placentários fixados para subseqüente processamento usual em histologia; outros fragmentos foram fixados convenientemente para posterior processamento à microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Das peças analisadas e das preparações microscópicas e ultraestruturais, foram realizadas fotografias, fotomicrografias e ultrafotografias para a documentação. Verificou-se que o valor médio dos pesos dos jumentos, como os pesos das placentas, em relação aos neonatos foi de 8.36.1.10 e 13,18% respectivamente... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: The objective of this study was analyzing the placental morphology of female asinines, species whose importance in the rural area is priceless, being little the detailed information about their placenta, vital "organ" to fetal viability and maternal fetal interaction, upon macroscopic, microscopic study, and scanning electron microscopy, which, except the macroscopy, were performed also in the maternal fetal interaction (placental-uterus). Therefore, eleven females of this species were used and eleven placentae were collected right after the calving down at field, in the instant of their release, besides the placenta fragments of one of these eleven females, which had its gestation followed-up twice. Thus, in the first of them, a caesarian operation was performed and fragments of the maternal fetal interaction were collected; part of them fixed for future usual processing in histology and, the other part, fixed and processed for analyses to scanning electron microscopy. Its second gestation was followed up until the moment of calving and the liberation of the placenta after the normal calving, being collected at full. After being collected, the eleven placentae were weighed, analyzed macroscopically and some placental fragments fixed for later usual processing in histology; other fragments were fixed conveniently for future processing to scanning electron microscopy. Among the analyzed pieces and the microscopic and ultra structural preparations, photographs, photomicrographs and ultra photographs were taken for the documentation. It was found that the average weights of the donkeys, as the weights of the placentae, in relation to the neonates were 8.36.1.10 and 13.18% respectively... (Coplete abstract click electronic access below)
Orientador: Gilson Hélio Toniollo
Coorientador: Márcia Rita Fernandes Machado
Banca: Marion Burkhardt de Koivisto
Banca: Marcos Lania de Araújo
Mestre

Donkeys carried Christ into Jerusalem, transported the Greek god Dionysus to his childhood home on Mount Nysa and into battle against the Giants, and provided a mount for Muhammad, who supposedly used it to summon his companions. Long before the arrival of the horse, they were ridden by kings in the Near East, buried near Egypt’s first pharaohs, and sacrificed to ancient gods across the Fertile Crescent and as far beyond it as Baluchistan and Badajoz. Along with their hybrid offspring, the mule, donkeys formed—and in places still form—a core technology for moving goods at both local and international levels, especially in areas of rugged or mountainous terrain: agricultural produce throughout the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, and beyond; tin and wool for Bronze Age merchants between Assyria and Anatolia; supplies for the Roman army; New World silver to Caribbean ports for shipment to Spain; salt in contemporary and medieval Ethiopia; household necessities and even the dead in the modern Moroccan city of Fez. Their muscles ground flour in the Classical Mediterranean, powered water wheels in Islamic Andalucía, and helped deliver stone columns from Egypt’s deserts to build the Pantheon in Rome. Today, they remain a critical resource for many of the world’s poor, their use promoted by numerous development projects. At the same time, conservation authorities in places as distant from each other as Australia and the United States seek to control the numbers of feral donkeys using means that pose impossible-to-resolve ethical questions. And yet, for most twenty-first-century individuals in the Western world, donkeys are among the least considered of the animals that people have domesticated. Tellingly, for example, a recent overview of the archaeology of animals completely omits them, while nevertheless including the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata), a tree-nesting bird kept by Pre-Columbian Native Americans, in its table of ‘major domestic animals’. Rarely seen and even more rarely eaten, donkeys are perhaps met with on foreign holidays or encountered as unusual companion animals, participants in school Christmas celebrations, or seaside attractions for small children.