Nutrition
One of the most important responsibilities of a donkey owner is to ensure a healthy diet. Many owners feed the wrong types of feeds and overindulge their donkeys with treats. Obesity, from an incorrect diet, will result in a shortened life span of your donkey, sometimes as much as half. Improper diet can also result in founder and laminitis which are debilitating hoof ailments.
To understand the dietary needs of your donkey, you must first consider the donkey’s origins. The common ass is a direct descendant of the African Ass. These donkeys evolved in the arid deserts of Africa and are accustomed to dry, sparse vegetation. Donkeys are browsers by nature and are used to looking for edibles as they slowly wander along. This instinct to constantly look for food will result in problems if the donkeys are in an area with too much fresh grass.
The first mistake a new donkey owner will make is to ask the local feed store for a feed recommendation. In all of our years in donkey rescue, we have never found a feed store operator that knew the nutritional requirements of a donkey. Usually they will instruct you to feed the donkey as you would a horse. This advice is not only wrong, but could be lethal.
Grass hay is the number one feed choice for donkeys. It is usually available in all areas of the country in one form or another. The benefit of grass hay, over other types of hay, is the low protein levels. To be beneficial to a donkey, the protein level must be below 5%. In a typical alfalfa hay, the protein levels can easily exceed 25%.
Types of grass hay include:
Bermuda
Coastal Bermuda
Orchard
Timothy
Brome
Donkeys require approximately 2% of their body weight in hay spread over 2-3 feedings per day. For an average 500 pound donkey this could be 5 pounds in the morning with an additional 5 pounds in the evening. Cool, clean, ice free water must be made available to your donkeys at all times. Never feed a donkey if you are unable to provide water!
Donkeys are extremely stoic animals and will not usually show pain. Always ensure that you donkey is eating everyday. A donkey "off his feed" is a sure sign of a serious health problem. Call you veterinarian immediately if you notice a sharp drop in appetite.
Older donkeys, those over 20, may benefit from the addition of an equine senior feed. This will help boost their system and also provide vitamins and minerals necessary for older animals. Always follow the "feed to body weight" instructions on the product. Continue to feed some grass hay for digestive purposes.
Treats are not necessary for a donkey’s health and their overuse can result in unacceptable behavior. If your donkeys are always expecting a treat, they may start to bite and get agitated if treats are not forthcoming. Spoil your donkeys with love, not treats. If you insist on an occasional treat, give carrots cut into 2" lengths. Many horse and people snacks are too rich for donkeys and can have serious health complications.
In addition to feed and water, donkeys require salt and minerals. The most convenient way to provide these is in the form of a salt block. Available at most feed stores, these blocks are made from salt with many other trace minerals included. The blocks are left in the donkey’s pen, usually near the water, and the donkey will lick the salt as needed.