Yes donkeys will help protect your horses and cows from coyotes and other predators like dogs. It’s based on research and field-based experience showing how effective different tools are against a specific predator. If you’re considering a guardian dog, keep in mind that dogs that come from working (as opposed to pet) lines generally make better guardians. The Donkey Sanctuary’s welfare experts say becoming overweight is a real risk for donkeys in Great Britain and similar environments, and fat donkeys, or even those in ‘good’ condition, may be prone to laminitis and metabolic disease later in life. As earlier mentioned, there is no specific reason behind donkeys bray, but a combination of factors makes this unique sound. They use these senses to detect intruders. By Kathy Voth  /  June 4, 2018  /  Comments Off on What’s the Best Way to Protect Your Livestock from Predators? It’s vastly preferable for a donkey to have more donkey companions, provided that they have Donkeys can protect against a single fox, coyote, roaming dog and possibly a bobcat. The best fence for keeping predators out seems to be electrified netting. https://www.hobbyfarms.com/protect-your-flock-with-guard-donkeys-2 Yes donkeys will help protect your horses and cows from coyotes and other predators like dogs. 2. Cows And Donkeys. Many donkeys dislike and are aggressive towards dogs, coyotes and foxes and provide indirect protection for domestic animals. https://bestfarmanimals.com/what-is-the-best-animal-to-protect-chickens That’s why they produce vocals (bray) to tell something to other donkeys. You can also change the time of year you calve, kid or lamb. A singular donkey pastured with sheep or goats will protect them from predators. If the donkey is big enough and fast enough to get away from the cow, and if the pasture is not so small that the boss cow can hem him up. They bray, bare their teeth, chase, and How guard donkeys work Donkeys probably do not deliberately protect livestock. Choose a breed to match the type of predator in your area too. They do this in two ways... 1. Isabel the donkey is used at W-4 Farms in Schriever to protect the cattle from coyotes and other predators. They use these senses to detect intruders. Donkeys have exceptional hearing, a keen nose and excellent vision. Donkeys probably do not deliberately protect livestock. It still could make the cattle feel more secure. Since then, she has adopted two donkeys and learned firsthand how to manage them alongside horses. Llamas and donkeys are longer lived and easier to maintain than dogs since they eat what your livestock eat, but they are prey animals themselves, and so not as effective protecting stock from mountain lions, bears or wolves. Donkeys have strong eyesight and can see very clearly at night time. But not all puppies grow up to be guardian dogs, and improperly reared dogs cannot be retrained to become successful guardian dogs. They bray, bare their teeth, chase, and attempt to kick and bite dogs and coyotes. They can be aggressive to newborns, and can disrupt maternal bonding, so experts recommend removing from the … They may bray loudly. Use the comments section below to share your stories about managing predator problems with your On Pasture community. Keep the conversation going! Donkeys are often fielded with horses due to the perceived calming effect they have on nervous horses. Of the guardian animals, dogs seem to be most effective at providing protection from a wide range of predators across all operation sizes. Is there anything on that list donkeys _won't_ chase off? Donkeys are very sociable animals, though, so many think that in order to effectively do their jobs, they need to work alone. Donkey keeps his manager safe from Calf's Mother while helping to get the calf on its feet. Donkeys should be able to coexist fairly easily with cats; most likely they’ll do their own thing apart from one another (assuming the cat has space to avoid being stepped on by the donkey), though there are plenty of donkeys and cats that are quite friendly who frequently interact with one another! Because donkeys protect the animals, they are raised with, like no other guard animals. Like donkeys, llamas will walk or run towards foxes, coyotes and dogs, chasing, kicking and pawing at the predator. The more opportunities there are for a predator to feed itself with something other than livestock, the better it is for you. Actually, they are not fond of anything strange or unusual, like strangers. On top of that, they usually only have one foal at a time, and they aren't interested in reproducing again until their baby grows up a little. Not only is the weather more pleasant in April and May, it’s also the time of year when wildlife are giving birth. https://modernfarmer.com/2014/06/modern-farmers-guide-guard-donkeys Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. They're pregnant for anywhere between 10 – 14 months! If the example is true, one donkey protecting 300 herd of donkeys from a pack of wild dogs…THAT must be one in a thousand, hundred thousand, million. With his long life expectancy a donkey can truly be a friend/companion for life. Donkeys are often used as livestock guardians. Donkey defenders are commonplace on small cattle operations, but large ranchers merely budget for calf losses from illness and predators, Gersbach said. A donkey can have many purposes around the barn! These animals help protect the flock and prevent predation losses. Tack should be removed with opportunity to drink and feed. Get your answers by asking now. If you’re considering a llama, keep in mind that large, alert animals make the best guardians. The donkey should be introduced to the sheep as early as possible to increase the likelihood of the donkey bonding to the flock. Others have increased the number of wires in their fence and electrified them. Or the germs that caused it? Jennies are known to be ferocious mothers, and this same ferocity applies to “their” herd, which they tend to bond with very closely. Still have questions? Take care when introducing your donkey to any companion. Any other input is appreciated. To protect a clump of trees in a paddock where horses are not kept, a permanent fence can be placed around them that is relatively cheap and takes little time to erect. After graduating from veterinary school, she spent six years in a mixed-animal practice, working with dairy cows, horses, donkeys and small animals. NEXT ARTICLE →Does Creep Feeding Calves in Pasture Pay? The following infor-mation should help livestock pro- ducers decide if an animal would be a valuable asset to their operation. Livestock guardian dog breeds were developed through selective breeding in Europe and Asia to protect livestock from bears and wolves. This is a loaded question. Farmers worry that if the donkeys are allowed to mix with cattle, horses or other donkeys, then the sheep will be ignored. Donkeys have a strong relationship behavior with their barn fellows and this relation only builds strong by spending more time together. I was told he had a small cut on his neck. Experts recommend removing donkeys from the herd during breeding and lambing/kidding/calving time. Will Donkeys Keep Coyotes Away from Cattle and Protect Them? Why do they put donkeys with cows? One final fencing alternative is Fladry. Donkeys are not cognizant of chickens, ducks, or other smaller livestock animals and may step on, or kick birds and small creatures. Unlike wild and feral horses, wild donkeys in dry areas are solitary and do not form harems. Under ideal circumstances the jenny (female … Donkeys are surprisingly affectionate. Here Are the Minerals Cattle Require and What Deficiencies Look Like. Typically it is recommended to have a single “Jennie” (female) donkey as a livestock guardian for smaller herd animals, such as sheep, alpacas, or goats. They will charge, paw, and kick out when horses will just run. Coyotes are the main cause of live-stock deaths followed closely by wild and domestic dogs. Donkeys have an innate hatred of anything canine, although they can learn to tolerate resident dogs. The next day. When I see groups of cows grazing in a field, i find that theres always a donkey somewhere in the mix, why? Donkeys are smaller in size and can animals often and view them as family. Why do they put donkeys with cows? Uses of the Miniature Donkey The miniature donkey has many uses, the most common being a pet or companion animal. Donkeys need to bond with the herd for 4 to 6 weeks, and they seem to do this best when they’re 3 to 6 months of age. Appropriate rest periods need to be given. Donkeys are herd animals and need to be given a companion. Often the sheep or goats come to see the larger donkey as protective and will gather near it if they perceive a threat. If you’re considering a donkey, start young. If another donkey is not available at least provide a pony, lama, goat or cow. Use a post or two to support the hoops. This means that making a predator proof fence is difficult. Maybe it has something to do with your area. Woman donated billions, then the scammers appeared, UFC 261 fight ends instantly with horrific injury, Gronk sets crazy world record ahead of spring game, LSU to ban ex-star, scrub him from record books, Danger lurks for growing number of delivery drivers, Alabama gov. They may bray loudly. Often the sheep or goats come to see the larger donkey as protective and will gather near it if they perceive a threat. They can be aggressive to newborns, and can disrupt maternal bonding, so experts recommend removing from the herd at those times. The farm we got ours from … One of the first things learned by a donkey breeder is patience. Others, especially those rescued from abusive or neglectful situations, may be more territorial and defensive around all species, including cows. Llamas and Donkeys and Dogs, Oh My! If there is a topic here that you’d like to see addressed in great detail, drop me a line and let me know, or share your thoughts in the comments section. Donkeys’ vocal behaviour matches with Perissodactyls (zebras and horses) than cows and goats. You can adopt practices that reduce livestock exposure to predators. For example, moving dead animals as far from your pastures as you can reduces the chances that a scavenging predator will be drawn to your herd. Two donkeys or two llamas will bond to each other more strongly than to the stock they are to protect, and will usually be less attentive guardians than a lone donkey or llama would be. "Do you miss a cold when it's gone? How donkeys are useful to us? I don't know, I have a neighbor that has donkeys, cows, and goats all together. The most common form of abuse of donkeys is allowing them to be overweight. Donkeys who do attack a predator will be very aggressive, using their teeth and hooves. This is an electrified wire with flags attached. Reasons behind donkey bray. We have a problem with opossums, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, the occasional stray dog and potentially a bobcat. Courses and event arenas should be designed to be safe and appropriate for the experience and fitness of the donkeys concerned. I was not prepared for the injuries to Toby. Lots of people have cattle where I live, and I don't think I've ever seen a donkey in the mix. While a single donkey will give its life attempting to protect an entire herd, it simply isn’t capable of such a task. How Many Animals Can One Donkey Protect? Like the other animals, donkeys do communicate with their fellow donkeys. Guard donkeys are best at protecting cattle, sheep, and goats from predators. Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. However, donkeys still require health care, hoof trims, tooth floating, etc., and usually cannot have 24/7 access to lush pasture for risk of founder. Donkeys Form Incredibly Strong Friendships. There are advantages and disadvantages to using each type of guard animal. Perhaps they perform the same thing for cattle but coyotes aren't much of a threat. This young man wanted to give me a donkey because the donkey was in a field with another donkey and they fought. Any more will make them less effective. How donkeys are useful to us? Donkeys should be used in pastures that are wide open and not too large to ensure they can keep track of all the other livestock. With cows and donkeys, how they do together is entirely dependent on the personalities at play. Rotating the type of drug used when worming, and keeping a record. Coyotes can be a significant concern for sheep producers. How do donkeys protect the animals? Adult coyotes can squeeze through a 4-by-6 inch opening in woven wire, and can climb or jump fences that are less than 66 inches in height. 22. Photo by Dan Macon. Donkeys naturally do not like canids so by keeping them with the cattle, they have an animal that will run off any coyotes or loose dogs. If you’re worried about predators and wondering what you should do to protect your stock, a good place to start is this table from the Livestock-Predator Hub of UC Rangelands at the University of California, Davis. special precautions to protect the donkey. Donkeys are an excellent guard for sheep, goats, and calves. Donkeys can protect against a single fox, coyote, roaming dog and possibly a bobcat. Appropriate risk assessments and contingency planning should be in place to protect donkeys, staff and general public. When she's not helping farmers, ranchers and land managers on-site, she writes articles, and books, and edits videos to help others turn their livestock into landscape managers. Many donkeys dislike and are aggressive towards dogs, coyotes and foxes and provide indirect protection for domestic animals. It is a major part of equine ownership. I'd suggest that you look at an dog breed that is bred and raised as a livestock guardian instead of a donkey. They add them to sheep herds because donkeys are very aggressive and attack predators like coyotes. Typically it is recommended to have a single “Jennie” (female) donkey as a livestock guardian for smaller herd animals, such as sheep, alpacas, or goats. How do donkeys protect livestock? Donkeys have exceptional hearing, a keen nose and excellent vision. It always takes a little time to establish a pecking order, and some donkeys do have an innate dislike for some smaller animals, such as dogs, cats, sheep and goats. Guard donkeys generally require no training. For example, research found that a 12-wire fence with alternating ground and hot wires with an offset electrified trip wire on the outside was “coyote proof.” But dry soil conditions and grounding by vegetation can cause the fence to fail, so even this fence can disappoint you. Her twelve years at the agency allowed her to pursue her goal of helping communities find ways to live profitably AND sustainably in their environment. Donkeys are used as guard animals for cattle, sheep and goats since they have a natural aversion to canines and will keep them away from a flock. Though it has a shorter life than wire fences, the cost is lower as well and it can reduce coyote predation from 47% to 6%. They are browsers like deer and goats and enjoy blackberry bushes, etc. She has been researching and working with livestock as a land management tool for over a decade. Donkeys are often used as livestock guardians. They will charge, paw, and kick out when horses will just run. Sometimes they also make friends with the family dog. A single donkey also makes a good guardian for a herd of animals such as sheep, goats or cattle. Despite being the original beast of burden, the ass, the burro, the plain ol' donkey get a rough run in the perception stakes. We also recently bought a miniature donkey to keep our miniature cow company. Donkeys can protect livestock, such as: Cattle; Goats; Sheep; There should be no more than 200 of the same animals in a pasture with a donkey. Communicate with other animals. Getting the sheep and donkey to accept each other as flock mates is the first step in allowing the donkey to exhibit its true guarding instincts. It can seem a bit comical to set llamas to work on your ranch or farm as guardians of your newborn calves, but it works. Often the sheep or goats come to see the larger donkey as protective and will gather near it if they perceive a threat. Adding specific questions or information about your operation will help me target my search. Donkeys are very protective over their herds and are more aggressive with predators than horses or cattle. I a sucker for a poor mistreated animal. The best way to protect livestock from these canine predators is to take a preventative approach. On the other hand, I've heard of donkeys killing calves by running them to death. Donkeys naturally do not like canids so by keeping them with the cattle, they have an animal that will run off any coyotes or loose dogs. ← PREVIOUS ARTICLELet’s Talk Turkey – Pasture-Raised Turkeys in Time for Thanksgiving. Guard donkeys and mules .....9 Training and care ... on their cattle, sheep and goats. let the two of them work it out. Livestock Donkeys Protect Best. Their weight is completely in your control and it is your responsibility to take their well being seriously. Choose a single jenny (female) or a gelded jack (male). ". Donkeys hardly develop affection or appreciation for other animals but once they are used to living with them they get super protective about them. Given ample opportunity, most donkeys will bond with sheep and protect them from predators. For many Missourians, using guard ani- mals, such as dogs, llamas and don-keys, have helped cut their losses. Donkeys do often bray when they are excited by anything, that could be the lovable food to them, nicer weather or might be the singing behavior. This hee haw is maybe fun to listen to but communication, loneliness: sexual attraction alarming conditions or unknown reasons attached … Of the guardian animals, dogs seem to be most effective at providing protection They usually require no training after introduction to their herd or flock – just an adjustment period of a few days. Donkeys … Experts recommend removing donkeys from the herd during breeding and lambing/kidding/calving time. This keeps the cattle from being harassed and calves from being killed. I think either occurrence would be rare. I am no expert, but I have done a lot of reading about them recently, as well as talked to those who own them. Some ranchers have found success by adding electrified top and trip wires. They work best in pastures of 250 – 300 acres. Can a large speaker copy sound volumes of animals and dinosaurs? Donkeys not only have a natural territorial protectiveness but they also have herding instincts when properly bonded with the herd they are supposed to protect. Donkeys can protect against a single fox, coyote, roaming dog and possibly a bobcat. As Matt Barnes noted in our earlier article on this predator control tool, “it works best on small areas and for short time periods – like a calving pasture, and/or in combination with strategic grazing management.” You can read more about it and download a manual on how to set up and use Fladry, here. signs anti-trans sports bill into law, Explosion at gender reveal party rocks several towns, Why sports are better when blue bloods are winning, History nerd discovers rare Barbie dolls in attic, How Alex Smith changed college football forever, Black man shot by deputy after calling 911 for help. Donkeys are best at protecting medium to large-sized livestock such as miniature cows, ponies, sheep, goats, and pigs. Donkeys will naturally bray and charge at intruders such as coyotes which will alert the farmer and hopefully scare off the predator. This keeps the cattle from being harassed and calves from being killed. Kathy worked with the Bureau of Land Management for 12 years before founding Livestock for Landscapes in 2004. Will donkeys protect geese or a flock as part of their own herd? While donkeys need to be bonded to livestock for 4 to 6 weeks before heading to pasture, llamas do not require any training to stay with sheep. Each adult donkey establishes a home range; breeding over a large area may be dominated by one jack. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! 3. Donkeys are not a good choice for large pastures or rangeland settings and are most effective in open pastures less than 600 acres in size with fewer than 400 sheep. They do this in two ways... 1. Donkeys are very protective over their herds and are more aggressive with predators than horses or cattle. Guard donkeys may not bond with the livestock as fiercely as some llamas do, but they will fend off predators. Donkeys do best on high fiber – low protein hay. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page. Where do you live? How To Raise A Guard Donkey. Wrong the poor fellow had a wound on both sides of his neck one over 6 inches long and an inch deep puncher … on What’s the Best Way to Protect Your Livestock from Predators? Some are aggressive towards people, they can harass wildlife, and may roam beyond ranch boundaries, causing problems with neighbors. A donkey that is raised with the type of animal it is going to protect is a better bet. Michael Westhoff/Istockphoto My personal introduction to raising livestock has … Donkeys keep coyotes away by: Braying loudly and stomping their feet: sending warning signals that they’re prepared to fight if provoked Kicking out: using their hard hooves to prevent coyotes getting close Charging and chasing: running toward the predator and … Guard donkeys and mules .....9 Training and care ... any Missourians protect their livestock with the help of guard animals. Choice of guardian animal has many factors such as amount of care (dog require food, llamas and donkeys eat grass just like sheep) type of predation (llamas aren't good protectors if cougars and bears are common problems) and availability. Therefore, for best defensive support, individual donkeys or llamas should be with small flocks and herds of stock. To protect a tree close to an existing fence, connect high tensile wires to the fence and hoop them around the tree. There may be one or more possibilities you’d like to try from the list, so here’s some additional information as you consider your options. https://rurallivingtoday.com/livestock/livestock-guardian-animal-need Use a post or two to support the hoops. Some donkeys get along quite well with cows. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. When properly raised, they can reduce or eliminate predation, and even help with weight gain as stock is less stressed and more comfortable grazing. Choose a single jenny (female) or a gelded jack (male). Both gelded males and females, at least 2 years old, make effective guards, although not all llamas make good guard animals. Common breeds in North America include Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd and Akbash, Komondor, and Maremma. . https://opensanctuary.org/article/how-cows-get-along-with-other-species Due to increased predation from gray wolves and grizzly bears in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USDA Wildlife Services is currently investigating additional breeds—including Kangal, Karakachan, and Cao de Gado Transmontano—for protective capabilities and docility towards humans. You'll generally see donkeys or mules with cattle but with sheep and goats you can see a variety of livestock guardian animals including donkeys, mules, llamas, dogs (dogs bred for guardian work such as great pyrness, anatolians and akbash). https://www.motherearthnews.com/.../livestock/natural-livestock-protectors The Livestock Predator Hub suggests that, “more athletic and aggressive dogs may be more appropriate where the predators are similarly athletic and aggressive.”. Donkeys who do attack a predator will be very aggressive, using their teeth and hooves. Donkeys naturally do not like canids so by keeping them with the cattle, they have an animal that will run off any coyotes or loose dogs. … Donkeys also protect against coyotes, wolves, and wild or roaming dogs as the two species have a natural dislike for one another. Donkeys who do attack a predator will be very aggressive, using their teeth and hooves. Female donkeys have one of the longest gestation periods in the entire animal kingdom. How often do donkeys reproduce? When the donkeys are naturally bonded to livestock animals, they stay most of the time with them and in case of any attack, protect them. Toby was brought to me. 2. Guard donkeys protects the livestock by kicking anything harassing an animal since donkeys do not like intruders in their space, they make a perfect guard for the herd. Donkeys need to bond with the herd for 4 to 6 weeks, and they seem to do this best when they’re 3 to 6 months of age. Training Requirements. Most donkeys or mules will kick the fire out of a bothersome cow. Grazing cattle or sheep on your donkeys’ pasture can reduce the number of worm larvae that could potentially infect them.