Congratulations on rescuing this family of donkeys. I think they should have hay every day , split between 2 hay nets , 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening ? I have had to vets check her month to see if any thing is wrong there doesnt seem to be. Most goat farmers usually record success with pellets as this method of feeding helps to ensure the goat is getting all the nutrition in the feed. Thank you ~ Gina T. My miniature donkey is obese. Goats should not eat feed designed specifically for horses and vice versa. Using a slow net feeder (available at any tack store or online) can help the hay supply last longer and reduce the boredom/unhappiness at being restricted. 1. About 7 months back, we adopted a rescue donkey. Medicated food for many other animals at sanctuaries contain Rumensin or Bovatec and other ionophores (antibiotics) to control disease. What a great story about your pyrenean jack donkey! While under a visual inspection the digestive tract of a donkey and horse is the same, the way donkeys ferment and use fiber is unique. Creep feeders are large devices found on many farms that allow you to feed certain animals while not letting other animals eat. Hi Elsa, Heres a video of one farmer mixing up feed for his goats. Even though horses and donkeys are equines, horses have specific nutritional needs that donkeys dont, and vice versa. Quickthorn. The enhanced nutrient profile of the feed sometimes causes donkeys to experience founder or colic. Most American donkeys eat grass hay, such as Bermuda or Timothy hay. Or is letting him continue to graze & wait for the fat to naturally recede fine as well? He is on pasture with my horse and Im trying to figure out if I should separate him and put him in a smaller area to put him on a diet but not sure what to do to get that weight down. What do donkeys eat? If youve adopted a donkey or one was given to you on your farm or homestead, you may have no earthly clue what to feed them. She is so engrossed with her plants that she has pet names for all of them. It sounds like you are on the right track, exposing the donkey to adequate pasture, so kudos! He loves grain so may could use that. If behavior persists after offering salt free choice, you may want to offer a good equine or multi-species non-medicated mineral. It takes about 2.5-3.5 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of gain, so if I want an animal to gain 1 pound per day, need to feed at least that much above the maintenance requirement. I am mostly interested to know if this feed is okay to give her. Corn, however, is also the highest starch grain at about 66+% starch and needs to be added to the diet with caution. My boyfriend was given two older and overweight donkeys, one of whom is severely foundered. Best of luck! Thanks ~ Gina T. Hello, I rescued a male donkey approximately a year ago. I have a mini mule that use to only eat grass and hay. Is there a mineral thats not good for donkeys? Is it ok for him to eat it every day along with his usual grazing and hay portions? Note, though, that a donkey would be fed a balancer at a much lower rate than a pony. Youd need to watch them a while to see if he does something just before he gets bit, or if shes just randomly biting. Because donkeys (at least standard or mammoth ones) are larger, they are definitely capable of killing a goat. Bought her as a livestock guardian to a very small herd of goats and as a pet. If you have goats and feed your goats and donkeys in the same general area, theres a high probability that your donkey will eat your goats feed. They have been used in sheep flocks to guard the flocks from threats such as coyotes. If you would like to offer them anything else, we would suggest a ration balancer, such as our Empower Topline Balance. My question is, is Perennial Peanut Hay suitable for donkeys as well? One reason donkeys shouldnt be fed goat feed is that donkeys have far different nutritional needs than goats. In the equine world we certainly do see variation. Use the search! Is it o.k. Thanks for reaching out! When it comes to beef, there are a lot of different ways that people like to enjoy it. Donkeys do best on high fiber - low protein hay. To get, A female cow is called a heifer. In her previous home she was fed alongside great danes the owners bred and she was also fed dog food along with coastal hay. In short, the best feed to give your donkey is feed made for donkeys, so their specific needs are always met, and they dont get too much of anything that can harm their health. Whatever you do, you will want to ensure you keep them in proper weight, while still providing a balanced overall diet a product such as a ration balancer is a perfect solution for easy-keeping donkeys. One is to make sure she is well-fed and healthy. I currently have a mare that needs the company. Thank you for your interesting question about feeding some left over goat feed to your neighbors donkey. Donkeys can also be territorial when eating, so you may want to make certain that the dogs or goats do not disturb the donkey when it is being fed until it has been habituated a bit more. please what are the causes of foal mortality and how can we manage our donkeys including the foals? One, do not put them all together at once. Another problem caused by a diet too high in protein is that your donkeys body will start to take minerals from other parts of its body to offset the high acidity. Seemed very healthy. The symptoms will usually start as restlessness, incoordination, and heavy sweating. Are you able to feed him the goat feed? Have hay on hand for rainy days. It is important to monitor body condition as it is easy for donkeys to get overweight. When the foal is getting ready to be weaned and after weaning, I would recommend that it be fed a product designed for young growing horses at the recommended feeding rate. It, According to the Black Cow Vodka website, the vodka is made at the Black Cow Dairy in West Dorset, England. If your donkey occasionally eats a little unmedicated goat feed, theres no cause for alarm. The price of a quarter cow can vary depending on the butcher, but it is typically around $700., The amount of pasture required for each cow depends on a number of factors, including the type of cow, the quality of the pasture, and the grazing management system. We just want to make her comfortable. My farrier has not looked at her yet so the actual cause of the separtation is not known. It was moist. They are browsers like deer and goats and enjoy blackberry bushes, etc. There are, Assuming you would like a blog post on the benefits of cows eating baking soda: Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an important food additive for cows. This donkey needed his hooves trimmed and being new to the area we had a hard time finding someone. Also (and this is critical), medicated goat feed can be fatal to a donkey. You have some great questions. Dairy cows are used for milking, and, The answer to this question is a resounding yes! In addition, donkeys do not require additional iron and copper. One is a yearling with no known issues other than being like a dog. In fact, dairy cows produce around 80% of the worlds milk supply. Your donkey would be able to eat barley pellets, but that might not be the best recommendation. They can eat the same feed as goats or sheep as long as it is not medicated for small. The vitamins A and D are by far the most probable to be deficient in the natural diet. I have 2.5 acres fenced in and was interested in getting two donkeys to maintain and keep the grass down. The first is to feed your donkeys in a different place away from your other animals. My niece had a mare reject her foal earlier this year and was very successful with this product. Ability to digest forages may be impacted by the gut microflora that have developed in an individual. I would suggest you consider the following: Pasture grasses are not always available all year round though and they are sometimes fed commercially manufactured goat feed. Whats the best food to feed a donkey, for example, and what will happen if you provide goat feed to a donkey? Hi Mona, The milk is produced in small sacs within the gland called alveoli., Most gladiolus plants are safe for cows and horses to eat. To correctly care for your donkey, remember that it is not just a horse with longer ears. Simple single source grains are best like rolled oats or rolled barley. Also, they should not be left for more than a few hours as it would be possible for high moisture material like this to mold, which would be detrimental to the donkey. The former is a problem that negatively affects your donkeys blood, and the latter condition will affect its liver. They can also be unconcerned with them. Donkey foals start off suckling their mothers milk and can keep on feeding on it as they grow till they reach about 6 months of age. We just lost her companion a couple months ago due to colic. Generally, donkeys and other mammals can live in harmony together. Heres more on how a creep feeder works. Weight is primarily a matter of excess calories. I live in a remote area so my options are limited. You do this by adjusting the gap where they stick their head and mouth to grab the feed. My supervisor and I disagree on how much hay they should be fed , they are in good condition and not overweight . We bought a round bale of coastal hay, but arent sure how much to feed them. Thats why its best not to give your donkey feed from another animal, as their dietary needs dont always match and, in some cases, can be significantly different. For feeding him, yes, he can absolutely eat the same feeds generally donkeys just need less than horses do. Goat feed is typically infused with several vitamins and minerals that donkeys dont need, including copper and iron. It is cut from the rear end of the short loin, and includes a T-shaped bone with meat on each side., Most of the beef consumed in the United States comes from cows raised in feedlots. Donkeys need to eat hay and coarse pasture to get all the nutrition they need and require. The protein difference between Sweet 10 and Sweet 12 would not be detrimental to the health of miniature donkeys. As always monitor body condition score to make sure that they do not get too thin or too fat. Also (and this is critical), medicated goat feed can be fatal to a donkey. Each of these meats has, Cows are able to eat a variety of different foods, including pickled banana peppers. Interesting question, thanks for reaching out! The average cow can produce, No, milking cows are not used for beef. Roy J. I have recently moved to a new state with my horse Leo and have him living at my house with me. Ive always had horses and this is the first time Ive ever had a donkey. Dairy cows can and should be given preventive doses of anthelmintics (dewormers) during the grazing season to reduce the risk of, There are a number of reasons why cow milk is not considered good for humans. I know donkeys are designed to be on drier ground with very little forage. Can he also share the same mineral block that the cows will use? Never had a donkey before. Donkeys are extremely long-lived, with a life span of thirty years or more. Their digestive systems are similar but their metabolic needs are not. We are bringing the donkey and holstein over to our pasture soon and I want to make sure that we feed him correctly. I hope this information is helpful, and best of luck with the donkeys! Carrots, apples, bananas, pears, turnips and swedes are all safe and usually very popular with donkeys. Our goats and donkey pasture together. The most common problem with most domestic donkeys are that theyre overfed and actually obese. The term "cow" is sometimes used to refer to all female cattle, including bison and water buffalo. Many donkey owners who happen to also have goats on their farm have reported that their donkeys regularly love to go after their goat feed. If it is not medicated, feeding small quantities is unlikely to be a problem, but I cannot recommend a goat feed for a donkey without knowing more about the goat feed. And I feed Leo timothy hay, would that be okay for a donkey to eat, as well as grains? 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