This project was undertaken as a final degree dissertation for my B Sc (Hons) in Equine Science at Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire in 2003/4. A relationship between body measurements and bodyweight must be established in order to formulate an estimate of the bodyweight of donkeys. Bodyweight must be established for the long-term health of the donkey with regards to anaesthetics, anthelmintics (wormers) and other drugs given by veterinary surgeons and also for the formulations of feed rations. It was found that there were considerable physiological, digestive, metabolism and weight distribution differences between a horse and a donkey, giving rise to a different shape and therefore different weight distribution. Equations used for the estimation of weight for horses tended to under estimate the weight of donkeys. The weight estimation tapes used for horses and ponies were not accurate enough for donkeys.
The evolution of donkeys has depended upon fibrous, and poor quality food stuffs and also by browsing and grazing. The donkeys wandered in small herds over many miles in Asia, Africa etc to fulfil their appetite but unfortunately in the UK we put them in fields of grass too rich for their metabolism with little or no work. This can result in obesity and other related disorders.
513 donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth Devon, aged 4 years and above, were weighed and 5 different measurements were taken of each donkey. This was to assertain which measurement had the greatest effect on bodyweight. It was found that the heart girth measurement of the donkey gave the best prediction of weight. The age (providing it was over 4 years old) and the sex of the animal was found to be insignificant. Further research on older donkeys and those with large umbilical girth measurements have been subsequently completed. Research has also been included with over 500 Kenyan donkeys (ref: Kate Milner, 2010) therefore, increasing the number of donkeys in this research to over 1,000.
Most donkey owners and carers do not have access to a weighbridge so an estimation of the bodyweight of UK donkeys is essential. Therefore, a weight estimation tape specifically for donkeys has been developed from my initial research and this donkey weight tape is now available to donkey owners and carers.
The evolution of donkeys has depended upon fibrous, and poor quality food stuffs and also by browsing and grazing. The donkeys wandered in small herds over many miles in Asia, Africa etc to fulfil their appetite but unfortunately in the UK we put them in fields of grass too rich for their metabolism with little or no work. This can result in obesity and other related disorders.
513 donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth Devon, aged 4 years and above, were weighed and 5 different measurements were taken of each donkey. This was to assertain which measurement had the greatest effect on bodyweight. It was found that the heart girth measurement of the donkey gave the best prediction of weight. The age (providing it was over 4 years old) and the sex of the animal was found to be insignificant. Further research on older donkeys and those with large umbilical girth measurements have been subsequently completed. Research has also been included with over 500 Kenyan donkeys (ref: Kate Milner, 2010) therefore, increasing the number of donkeys in this research to over 1,000.
Most donkey owners and carers do not have access to a weighbridge so an estimation of the bodyweight of UK donkeys is essential. Therefore, a weight estimation tape specifically for donkeys has been developed from my initial research and this donkey weight tape is now available to donkey owners and carers.