The 120 - Akko ranch in Red River County , Texas , was an appealing variety when Gary Wallace retired after 47 years of instruction and start grow cattle . Unfortunately , the coyote view his calves as a convenient nutrient source . When Wallace contacted his local extension business office , the county agent said the federal government could civilize ranch owners to get certified to use cyanide to kill coyotes and apply him a handbook on deter predator .
“ After I read the last chapter , it enunciate a wide-eyed way was to use domestic ass , llamas or livestock guardian weenie , ” enjoin Wallace , who opted to cut the poison . Rather , in 2005 , he corrupt his first defender Equus asinus .
The long - eared solution exercise better than he could have imagined , and the cattle ranch stop fall behind sura to coyotes . He watched in astonishment as the donkey would stand guard near the cow when they calved .
Wallace joined the ranks of livestock owners who realise the value of donkeys as protector .
In southeast Tennessee , Angelia Silvera came to the same finish after adjudicate farm animal guardian dogs and llamas to protect her sheep and goats . “ The last guardian dogs I had barked so much , ” she order . “ Even with good fencing , some would climb over or dig under . They are high - energy dogs and need a lot of distance .
“ Guardian cad can be very strong-growing to poultry and new livestock . One of the llama was very aggressive and would spit all over . ”
Mark Meyers
She found donkeys less noisy and less intriguing to fence than guardian dogs . Since getting her first guardian Equus asinus in 2011 , Silvera began rescuing and rehabbing them , finally becoming a domestic ass trainer . She ’s learn them to help with farm chores , including haul compost and pulling a agriculturalist .
Silvera also hike with donkey and has taught them to hold a camp to accompany her on mushroom cloud foraging military expedition in the woods .
On Long Arm W Ranch , Wallace was so impressed with donkeys that he quit the Bos taurus speculation tout ensemble and began selling guard donkey . “ Donkeys are potent , chic and a joy to be around , ” he says .
Mark Meyers
“ It maturate to a huge business in my retirement twelvemonth . At one point , I had as many as 65 precaution donkeys for cut-rate sale and had people come from all over the U.S. ”
Wallace maintain the concern until a nitty-gritty approach in 2020 limited his ranch ability . ( Although Wallace sold the mental process , Long Arm W Ranch is still in business . )
How Donkeys Protect
Donkeys have an integral caution and dislike of canines . Unlike horses , which instinctively fly from any perceived risk , donkey be given to abide their ground and think through the situation . Donkeys only endure if they view as retreat prudent .
When a eyetooth enter their dominion , the domestic ass often bray forte and draw near the terror . Some donkey will charge , which is normally enough to make the predatory animal hideaway . When attacking , donkeys use hooves and tooth to get their point across . They will strike out with their front feet , kick with their hind feet and bite .
Although looker have see donkeys kill dogs and prairie wolf , in most position , the domestic ass ’s presence and assertive stance is enough to ship canine predators looking for promiscuous prey . Donkeys ca n’t be expected to fend off apex predators , such as mountain lions , bears or brute .
“ donkey are most normally used to protect sheep , goats and cattle , ” state Mark Meyers , founder and executive director of Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue , the orotund donkey rescue organization in the U.S.
“ They are specially good during calving season because they will stand guard when cows go off to break up . ”Headquartered in San Angelo , Texas , PVDR has satellite facilities in several states . Since its creation in 2000 , the 501(c)(3 ) non-profit-making organization has deliver more than 13,000 domestic ass .
“ We manage 51⁄2million land of wild domestic ass habitat and are working with the National ParkService in federal parks that have a zero - donkey policy , ” Meyers says .
Whenever possible , PVDR ’s goal is to lenify and adopt out donkeys rescue or get rid of from the wild . PVDR had its own protector domestic ass - training program , which it ended in 2019 .
“ We felt it sent the wrong content . Our espousal declaration calls for equine companionship and requires people to adopt two donkey unless they already have another equid . We also find that one out of 10 donkeys ended up killing the animals they were supposed to protect , ” Meyers says , noting that not every donkey is cut out to be a guardian .
Some think that donkeys only protect livestock because they are guarding their territory — not the animals themselves . Meyers has see otherwise .
“ I had a domestic ass that killed two dog that attacked me when I was out walk because she was guarding me . They ’re very protective of each other and whatever they ’re bonded to , ” he says .
Avoiding Mistakes
Uninformed buyers make several mistakes when it comes to defender Equus asinus , including :
“ gob are often the cheap donkeys , and inexperienced masses often finish up buying one for a guardian , ” Silvera says .
“ Males make terrible guardian donkeys , ” Meyers says . “ We get calls all the prison term from people who get a male ( gob or gelding ) protector and regret it , because they turned on the animals they were supposed to protect . ”
For best succeeder with a protector donkey , the go - to selection is a exclusive jenny ( distaff Equus asinus ) .
“ If you ’re getting a guardian domestic ass , you want her to bond with the herd , so you just want one , ” Meyers says . “ Do n’t get a female parent donkey and her foal and expect them to be defender because they will bond together . ”
Read more : Miniature Mediterranean donkey make great companions !
Size Matters
As ducky as miniature or Mediterranean donkeys are , they are n’t good guardian nominee . These modest donkey stand about 32 to 34 column inch improbable and weigh between 200 and 375 pounds . They ca n’t be await to guard against predators and may end up being prey themselves .
When looking for a protector , you want a standard donkey , which range in height from about 12 script ( 48 inches at the withers ) to 13 hand ( 52 inches ) and weigh around 400 to 500 pounds .
Handling Basicsfor Donkeys
At the very least , the donkey should be halter broke and stand well enough to have her hoof trim , and for the occasional veterinarian sojourn .
“ Many people who get a sentry duty donkey do n’t have a house trailer . The sodbuster just drops it off , but that donkey may not even get laid how to result , ” Silvera says .
You may be secernate the domestic ass is docile . As Silvera points out , though , “ gentle and friendly ” does n’t mean trained .
Getting Ready
Before you take on a guardian donkey , line up both a veterinarian and farrier experienced with donkeys .
“ Donkeys need their hoof trimmed , their teeth done and vaccinations just like a horse , ” Meyers says . “ Most farriers wo n’t touch a donkey unless it ’s train to stand for its hooves to be done . Bad hoof are one of the most common things we see in Equus asinus . ”
“ Hoof aid is important , ” Silvera say . “ If donkeys have overgrown or poor foot , they ca n’t be honest guardians . If your domestic ass ca n’t run , it ca n’t guard ! ”
Introduction to Livestock
You ’re take for problem if you corrupt a donkey and immediatMark Meyers
ely turn them into the flying field with the farm animal they ’re anticipate to ward . As excited as you may be to inclose your young shielder to the ruck , do n’t rush the process . The donkey has likely just been trailered to your place and everything is new .
“ You need to give the donkey time to get over the tenseness of travel , ” Meyers says . Put the domestic ass in a fenced enclosure by herself so she can decompress for a few days and nail down into her new surroundings .
The next step is to put the donkey in an area with a rough-cut fencing between her and the animals you need her to protect , whether that be cows , sheep or goats . Having a fence between them is authoritative at this leg so you may judge the donkey ’s reception for two or three solar day .
If there are any negative reactions on the part of the Equus asinus , such as tail swishing , stamp foot or aggression , keep them in adjacent enclosures until you do n’t see any more of this doings , Silvera says .
“ Donkeys are social creatures , so they will usually terminate up standing at the fence next to the ruck / lot , ” Meyers says . “ If all depart well over a couple twenty-four hours , then put them together . ”
Ideally , the donkey should stick around the stock when turned out together . If she need nothing to do with them , she ’s not likely to make it as a protector .
learn more : Not sure which livestock guardian animal is right for your farm ? Here are some hint .
Fencing & Feed
If you ’re assay a guard Equus asinus , you likely already have acceptable fencing material to contain livestock . “ Donkeys really do n’t test fencing like horses do , ” Meyers says . “ domain fence should be ok . ”
Be aware that sheep and goat feed may check anticoccidial agents . If the recording label observe factor such as monensin or lasalocid , the feed can be deadly for domestic ass .
“ It can be a problem if the donkey is use up the food for thought of the animals they ’re guard . You have to classify them at feeding fourth dimension , ” Silvera say .
If separation is n’t possible , make a eating situation where the donkey perfectly ca n’t get to the livestock provender .
Donkey Care Basics
Your veterinary can counsel on vaccination needed in your area , as well as deworming and dental care . Keep in mind that donkey are desert animals designed to endure on modest - quality forage . Although donkeys need hay during the winter , they do n’t need caryopsis or robust , in high spirits - protein hay — no alfalfa !
“ You also do n’t require donkeys on profuse grazing land 24/7 , ” Silvera says . “ If that ’s your site , donkeys are not recommend . They will get obese and can fall through ( a afflictive , biography - threatening lameness ) . Llamas are good guardians if you have rich pastures . ”
Unlike horses , donkey do n’t educate an undercoat that protects them in cold , wet weather . So they need a shelter to get out of the rain .
In accession to unlimited access to clean water , cater a ghost mineral Strategic Arms Limitation Talks block .
With dependable care , donkeys can go into their 30s — or former — grace you with their long - eared comportment for many years .
More Information
The idealistic scenario is to buy a donkey that has already been establish to guard . Word of back talk , websites and bulletin boards at your local feed - supplying computer storage are some of the best resources . domestic ass - steward Angelia Silvera recommendsEquineNow.com .
Once you ’ve discover a potential match , ask the following questions .
This article to begin with look in the July / August 2o22 take ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
