Donkeys are often treated like small horses, but their nutritional needs, behavior, and management requirements are very different. In this episode of Scoop & Scale, we’re joined by Dr. Amy McLean, an equine scientist and Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis, whose research focuses on equid management, behavior, and welfare, with a particular interest in donkeys, mules, hinnies, and working equids.
We explore what makes donkeys unique, from their evolutionary history and remarkable adaptations to their social behavior and specific health and welfare needs. We also take a deep dive into donkey nutrition, discussing why straw can be an important part of the diet, how to manage easy keepers, and why feeding donkeys alongside horses requires careful consideration. We discuss the risks of obesity, laminitis, and hyperlipaemia, and the practical steps owners can take to support donkey health and welfare.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Donkey evolution, domestication, and biology, including how donkeys differ from horses, the relationship between donkeys and zebras, and what makes mules and hinnies unique
- Donkey behavior and welfare, including social bonds, pain recognition, the truth about stubbornness, and the challenges facing working donkeys around the world
- Donkey nutrition and feeding, including the role of straw, choosing appropriate forage, managing pasture, feeding donkeys in mixed horse herds, and meeting their nutritional requirements
- Donkey health and management, including obesity, laminitis, insulin dysregulation, hyperlipaemia, safe weight loss, and the importance of recognizing subtle signs of illness
- Practical advice for donkey owners, from housing and companionship to hydration, treats, and long-term care, and so much more
Whether you own a donkey, keep donkeys alongside horses, care for mules, or simply want to better understand these often-misunderstood equids, this episode offers an evidence-based discussion of donkey nutrition, health, behavior, and welfare. Join us for this episode of Scoop & Scale, the equine nutrition podcast exploring the science behind better feeding, management, and care of horses and other equids.
Dr. Amy McLean is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis. She earned her PhD at the University of Michigan, where she studied donkeys, and her research focuses on equid management, behavior, and welfare, with particular emphasis on donkeys, mules, hinnies, and working equids in developing countries.
