Morphometric Characteristics and Management of the Desert Donkeys (Equus asinus) of Rajasthan

Yash Pal; R. K. Dedar; R. A. Legha; T. R. Talluri

doi:10.5455/ijlr.20210430022946

Authors

Yash Pal National Research Centre on Equines, Sirsa Road, Hisar, Haryana, INDIA
R. K. Dedar Equine Production Campus, ICAR-NRC on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan, INDIA
R. A. Legha Equine Production Campus, ICAR-NRC on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan, INDIA
T. R. Talluri Equine Production Campus, ICAR-NRC on Equines, Bikaner, Rajasthan, INDIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20210430022946%20%20%20%20%20%20%20

Keywords:

Biometric, Donkeys, Management, Phenotypic Characterization, Rajasthan

Abstract

In India, donkeys constitute about 22% of total equine population but most of them are non-descript local donkeys. The present study was conducted to characterize phenotypically the donkeys of Rajasthan available in different districts and to identify their housing, feed and fodder, health management system. Body length, height at withers, heart girth in adult donkeys irrespective of sex were 97.62±0.27, 95.78±0.25, 104.49±0.32, respectively. Significant differences were observed in biometric indices viz., ear length, tail length, fore leg length, canon length, hoof length, canon circumference, pastern circumference and hoof circumference between adult male and female donkeys. Donkeys are of many coat colours but gray are more prevailing, accompanied by shoulder crosses, white muzzles, eye rings, white bellies and inner legs. The forehead of donkeys was observed slightly convex. The donkeys rarely suffer from any diseases except colic as reported by the donkey keepers of the study area. Vaccination was not in practice in donkeys of Rajasthan. Majority of the respondents were not aware about the symptoms of estrus jenney and their jennies were getting pregnant themselves through the natural covering during grazing.

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