Grazing and Browsing in Miranda Donkeys

Goats are sometimes used to clear brushy areas as they browse on shrubs and woody plants. Donkeys, though they are primarily grazers (grass-eaters) like other equines, may be useful in the same way, according to statistics gathered by a group of scientists studying Miranda donkeys* in Portugal. This breed has a small population and is described as endangered.

Eight nonpregnant jennies (female donkeys) were observed during two summer months of grazing on mountainous pasture that contained both grass and brush. Feeding activity was recorded every 15 minutes during daylight hours in two study periods. Jennies spent 75% of their time searching for and eating forage. The diet was made up of about 70% grasses and 30% shrubs.

Though the donkeys are used primarily as work animals, their penchant for eating brush suggested to the researchers that they could also be utilized as a biological tool for controlling and reducing shrub encroachment in mountain areas. Emphasizing the usefulness of the donkeys could help to increase their perceived value and possibly lead to a larger population.

*The full text of “Ingesting behaviour in Miranda donkeys in a natural mountain pasture” can be found here.