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Donkeys, known as asses or burros, have long been companion and work animals for humans. Archaeologists found several nearly complete donkey skeletons that had been carefully buried in Egyptian tombs dating to more than 5,000 years ago, suggesting domestication at that time. Today, donkeys serve in transport and agricultural work, and as companion animals.
Physical Characteristics
As members of the Equidae family, donkeys closely resemble horses and zebras. However, donkeys' specific physical characteristics that set them apart from their close relatives.
Donkeys tend to be smaller than horses, although some donkeys are larger than some ponies. One of the biggest differences in donkeys and horses is ear size: Donkey ears are typically much longer than those of horses. Donkey manes are stiff and upright, while those of horses are more hairlike: not upright, but long and flowing. Tails are also different: Donkey tails are covered with short hair until the end, which ends with a brush of longer hair; horse tails consist of long, flowing hair from the base of the rump -- the common human "ponytail" is very similar to the tail of a horse or pony.
Most donkeys have a smooth coat in varying shades of gray or fawn; however, some breeds have different coats, such as the Poitou, which has a dark, shaggy coat.
Size Variations
Donkeys are often labeled by their sizes, which range from less than 3 feet tall to over 14 hands. A hand, a unit of measurement equaling 4 inches, commonly serves to measure the height of horses and other equines from the ground to the highest point of the shoulders, also called the withers.
Size classifications include miniature, standard, large standard and mammoth stock. Miniatures are 36 to 48 inches high. Standards are 36 to 48 inches tall. Large standards are 48 to 54 inches for jennets or 56 inches for jacks. Mammoth jennets are 54 inches or taller; mammoth jacks are 56 inches or taller.
Why Raise Donkeys
In spite of the fact that the jackass have been given an injurious and low profile part in present day culture as a rule related with poor people and hindered networks, it has assumed a long standing part as a methods for transport and draft by its heap conveying capacities, acquiescence, minimal effort input and utilitarian transformation to different environmental zones and impervious to numerous sicknesses tormenting domesticated animals on the planet (Oudman, 2002; Bougler et al., 2005). They have been a consistent expansion in jackass populaces regardless of negligible interest in its creation, exploration and the board. As foothold creatures, jackasses exhibit an elevated level of versatility contrasted with oxens. They are effortlessly prepared and have demonstrated agreeability with the ladies society in ranch work and the developments of homestead produce in numerous nations in Asia, Latin America and Africa. In numerous African nations, more unfortunate ladies accept that jackass footing and transport would suit their requirements, and they are restless for related credit and preparing (IFAD/FAO/Government of Japan, 1998). Jackass circulation or rather higher fixation is covering with "lacking" zones of the world as appeared in the table 1 here underneath.
In peaceful networks jackasses are a fundamental specialist in vehicle and the conveyance of merchandise and ventures giving every day water and fuel wood for family utilization. During transhumance jackasses help in shipping family merchandise from the slopes to the valleys.
Jackasses are significant in many ranch families across Africa in the development of homestead produce to homes and markets (Oudman, 2002). By this jackasses diminish the weight of head load transport and safe time ladies spend looking for food and water. They help little dealers in the transportation of their products to close by business sectors available to be purchased particularly in landlocked regions or during periods when streets are terrible for vehicular vehicle.
The significant expense of transportation and set number of load vehicles makes jackass transport the lone accessible methods for these petit dealers. . On the Hydra Saronic Island, since vehicles are banned, jackasses and donkeys structure essentially the sole technique for substantial merchandise transport. Jackasses carry supplies through the wilderness to a camp station in Tayrona National Natural Park in northern Colombia. Jackasses have likewise assumed authentic parts in fighting giving methods for shipping work force, food and water to troopers at the war front and furthermore emptying injured or debilitated warriors for clinical consideration. In excess of 85 references ensnaring jackasses are found in the Bible and rock workmanship portrays a great many old utilization of jackasses.
In spite of just oral sources, jackasses assumed a urgent part in business and correspondence in individuals from totally different foundations. For example, it is notable and acknowledged that in the Nso tribe of Cameroon western good countries, jackasses or Jaiki (lamnso, local tongue) were the primary specialists of kola nut1 exchange between Southern Cameroon and Nigeria. On their return the proprietors repurchased dresses available to be purchased in Cameroon.
Very landrace populaces of jackasses have endure and some even turned wild in little crowds in this hilly and soggy district.
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