Skip to main content
Log in

Reproductive characteristics of the jenny donkey—Equus asinus: A review

  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Conclusions

The review emphasises the mainly temperate origins, scarcity and relatively poor quality of the available literature on the reproductive characterists of the jenny and points to the need for more objective recording and investigation of this animal particularly in the tropics and sub-tropics where, in fact, most donkeys are to be found. In most respects the reproductive characteristics of the jenny have similar values to those of the horse. The two exceptions appear to be the length of the oestrous cycle and the length of gestation. The oestrous cycle in the jenny appears to be longer than in the mare by one to two days and the gestation period to be longer by some 37 to 38 days. Given the degree of natural variation that appears to exist the longer length of the oestrous cycle is of marginal significance. An awareness of the longer length of gestation in the donkey is of some importance as regards the preparation for and management of parturition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asdell, S. A. (1964).Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction, 2nd edn, Constable and Company, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bearden, H. J. &Fuquay, J. (1984).Applied Animal Reproduction, 2nd edn. Reston Publishing Company Inc., Reston, Virginia, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berliner, V. R., Sheets, W. E., Means, R. H. &Cowart, F. C. (1938). Oestrous cycle of jennys and sperm production of jacks. Proceedings of the American Society of Animal Production, pp 295–298.

  • Borwick, R. (1970).Donkeys, Cassell and Company Ltd, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, H. H. &Cupps, P. T. (1969).Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 2nd edn. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaton-Evans, W. (1986). Stud Medicine.The Professional Handbook of the Donkey. (Ed. E. D. Svendsen). The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellendorff, F., Taverne, M. &Smidt, D. (1979).Physiology and control of parturition in domestic animals. Developments in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 5. Elsevier Scientific Publications, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, H. (1984). Ass, mule and onager.Evolution of domesticated animals. Longman, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1968). Production Year Book 39. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, A. F. (1968). Tables of data on livestock reproduction. Edinburgh University Press.

  • Henry, M., Figueiredo, A. E. F., Palhares, M. S. &Coryn, M. (1987).Journal of Reproduction and Fertility Suppl.35, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchins, B. (1986). The differences between asses and horses. The Brayer (Winter), Denton, Texas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, C. A. (1976).Donkeys: care, choice and training. ACTIS, Talbot Street, Dublin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Means, R. H. (1941). Jackstock Production in Mississippi, Bulletin 363. Mississippi State College, Agriculture Experiment Station, Mississippi, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oviedo, M.A. (1986). Reproductive Management in Donkeys. The Brayer (Fall), Denton, Texas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishikawa, Y. &Yamasaki, Y. (1949a).Japanese Journal of Zootechnical Science,19, 119–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishikawa, Y. &Yamasaki, Y. (1949b).Japanese Journal of Zootechnical Science,20, 28–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svecin, K. (1939).Konevodstvo,4, 42–45 (as cited by Asdell, S. A., 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Svenden, E. D. (1986). Ed.The Professional Handbook of the Donkey. The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon.

    Google Scholar 

  • UFAW (1971). University Federation for Animal Welfare.Handbook on the care and management of farm animals. Churchill Livingstone, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandeplassche, G. M., Wesson, J. A. &Ginther, O. J. (1981).Theriogenology,16, 2, 239–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, G. P. (1982).Black's Veterinary Dictionary. 14th edn. Adam and Charles Black, London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fielding, D. Reproductive characteristics of the jenny donkey—Equus asinus: A review. Trop Anim Health Prod 20, 161–166 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02240085

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02240085

Keywords

Navigation