Treat after treat, all lined up, and ready for you to purchase and feed to, Believe it or not, what you eat affects your carbon footprint. We wouldnt generally recommend feeding a larger proportion of hay/haylage than straw, even in young growing donkeys. Constant access to straw allows a donkey to eat to appetite without consuming too many calories. If hay is in short supply in your area (or if it is very expensive) then you could look at the following alternatives. In special circumstances old or sick donkeys eat additional high fibre feeds and supplements to help maintain their body weight. Donkeys are getting to spend 1 hour in the center of the track @donkeywhispererfarm The sugar content is low in the winter. Wheat straw is more fibrous and difficult to chew, making it less suitable for very young donkeys or donkeys with poor dentition. Donkeys can develop insulin dysregulation, and often the higher the sugar, the higher the calorie content. Donkeys evolved in the hot, arid climates of Africa and Asia, where forage options are poor most of the year. A combination of barley straw and hay is ideal for all donkey breeds. Remember a healthy donkey eats healthy and exercises on a regular basis. Population of Donkeys and Mules For best results use with a Beneficial Bacteria. In their natural habitat donkeys will browse, eating highly fibrous plant material in small quantities throughout the day. Today, she serves as the district commissioner for the Salt River Pony Club. $12 a bale with pick up in Klamath. Always choose a chaff that is laminitic safe and preferably with a sugar content of less than 8% when feeding donkeys. The donkey can also recycle nitrogen, which occurs in the amino acids present in most protein sources. Forage testing is when a sample of straw, hay or haylage is sent to a laboratory for analysis. Thanks very much! It is a planted crop of specific grasses, such as rye or timothy, which the farmer makes from the stems remaining after the grain has been taken. These contain variable amounts of chopped rye, timothy or alfalfa grasses and oat straw. Never feed your donkey commercial feeds designed for horses. This is because donkeys need high fibre diets with a low amount of protein and carbohydrates. If looking at an analysis to determine whether a specific hay would be good for a donkey, look at the levels of fiber, sugars, protein, and calories. But he's recently stepped in to make a much larger donation to purchase more than 460 acres of land to be set aside . Donkeys and horses share many similarities, but their nutritional requirements and digestion systems are very distinct. With careful forage selection, you can maintain your donkey at a healthy weight while maximizing forage intake, maintaining gastrointestinal health, and staving off boredom. Also used to assist in growing grass. However it could be fed mixed with a higher ratio of straw. A by-product of the grain industry, straw comprises the dry stalks of cereal crops like barley, oats, and wheat. When donkeys are fed the wrong foods and given the ability to graze twenty-four seven on pasture and brush along with fruits, cereal treats, oats and even vitamins they can gain weight quickly and become obese. Barley Straw Bales by Easy Pro Pond Products. Much of the forage grown for horses is, therefore, too lush to safely make up the majority of the donkeys diet. Adjustable standard/burro or Miniature premium soft yacht rope halter with a matching (6ft or 9ft lead line) solid stainless steel twist safety snap and a real black leather end. Ive had horses for a long time, but I understand donkeys have different nutritional needs. We have now used just hay and our mini donks seem fine.. We have discussed using wood shavings too, so think I might give that a go in the stable. Donkeys do not need high levels of sugar in their diets. Get PET | TAO Products at TCVM Pet Supply, When I first graduated from veterinary school, I thought I knew it all. These stems are allowed to dry out and are then baled together and sold as animal feed or bedding material. Since posting our vet has also said he does not recommend barley straw, or any straw. You may need to supplement a donkeys diet more if: In such circumstances, look for either high-fiber pellets, like these, or if your donkey needs bulking up some beet pulp. Never feed donkeys mouldy hay as they may have potentially fatal allergies to the mould. Some have added oil, molasses, minerals, herbs or hoof growth supplements whilst others are high fibre and molasses free. Sugar beet, a by-product of the sugar industry, is a useful food given in small amounts to tempt a sick donkey to eat or to help an elderly donkey or underweight donkey gain condition. I getting a lot of mixed advice about the ideal forages for donkeys. We are back at the Donkey Sanctuary in February and will discuss with them what are options are.Really appreciate everyone's advise and guidance on here, its been invaluable. link to How Much Does It Cost To Butcher A Cow? Those are the situations where its best to consult with your veterinarian and determine the best way to go. Product Description. Healthy Communities | Nutrition | Parenting, http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37269/donkeys-unique-nutritional-needs. A donkey will, therefore, enjoy an environment where there is a rich diversity of plant life. I need it for two miniature donkeys arriving soon. Soaking times vary so refer to the manufacturers instructions. We must test all forage before purchasing. Ensure your donkey has access to clean drinking water 24/7. Ration balancers typically fed to horses and ponies for this purpose are not generally suitable for donkeys due to the additional calories they add to the ration and the fact that additional unnecessary protein. Never feed your donkey freshly cut grass, as this can cause colic and laminitis. Donkeys prefer to eat little and often. Donkeys with access to grass all year round wont require much hay, even during the winter months. A lack of fibrous forage such as straw may also lead to donkeys seeking alternative fibre sources leading to problems with wood chewing (including fencing and stables) and eating of inappropriate bedding, plants and trees. All information contained in this website is for educational purposes only. Never feed a miniature donkey, or any other breed, anything with mold on it. Merry Christmas! Adapted from The Horse, Your Guide to Healthcare Website.Donkeys Unique Nutritional Needs (2016)http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37269/donkeys-unique-nutritional-needs, Adapted by Rachel Moody, Livestock Educator, CCE Orange County, CCE Ulster232 Plaza Road (Hannaford Plaza)Kingston, New York 12401 For these dental donkeys we dont recommend feeding straw, hay or haylage but instead recommend pre-chopped fibres known as chaff or chop. Because a lot of the minerals in the blocks can be very toxic to equines and even cause death. Testing can be done at Equine Analytical Labhttps://equi-analytical.com/U.SA. Another key adaptation is the donkeys ability to internally recycle nitrogen, which is something horses and ponies cant do. Looking for hays with a greater proportion of stems than leaves will insure a lower nutritional value. Put yesterdays feeding straw into todays bed. Call the vet asap. Description. Donkeys on a forage only diet may not obtain all of the required vitamins and minerals from the straw, grass and hay in their diets. Feeding donkeys straw and other forages We often get asked about feeding straw and other forages. Donkeys don't do well on high-energy or high sugar hay, such as alfalfa. Restricting their food intake such as not allowing them food for long periods of time to maintain their weight can cause problems in their gut as the enzymes that normally break down the food will start to die or attack the lining of the stomach and cause ulcers. There are many brands on the market selling high fibre pellets. When horses were already grazing the lush Great Plains of North America, the Wild African Ass was nibbling on shrubs and succulents in the arid African desert. How to Use How to Use Remove the outer plastic packaging and keep the barley bale within the mesh bag. Feeding a donkey on grass and hay without providing any straw will end up over-supplying them with calories and energy, causing them to store the excess calories as fat. A donkey-specific product like TopSpecs Donkey Forage Balancer is a better option. Talk to one of our welfare advisers to find out more information about donkey nutrition. Clear-Water Barley Straw Bales, Pond logs 8oz Treats 1000 gallons for 6 Months (1-Pack) 3.9 (112) $1895. They also enjoy fruits and vegetables. Our Mission: Cornell Cooperative Extension puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability, and social well-being. refresh results with search filters open search menu. Donkeys on box rest may need their diet adjusting, please contact your vet for advice. In addition to the restricted grazing our donkeys always have access to barley straw to ensure they are getting plenty of fibre to meet their nutritional needs. The high sugar and starch content can cause obesity and other weight-related issues. Sugar beet is a source of succulent, nutritious, digestible fibre when added to the feed, although it cannot be fed as a replacement to hay. What do you do with that straw? Anatomy, physiology, drugs, surgery learningabout. Miss Samantha has to be one of the sassiest and kindest chickens I have on my smallholding, but she's also one of the least smart We are passionate about farm animals. As a result of this adaptation, donkeys show higher percentage-digestibility for protein and various fiber fractions of feeds than ponies. We have successfully used TopSpec Donkey Forage Balancer for donkeys on weight loss or maintenance diets and TopSpec Comprehensive Balancer for those with extra nutritional needs such as growing, breeding, underweight, ill or elderly donkeys. GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged! Once donkeys get fat, it can be very difficult to remove weight, and they are not only at risk of laminitis but also hyperlipidemiaboth of which can lead to death. Haylage is, therefore, better suited to someone with five or six donkeys to feed, rather than one or two. Donkeys have such a strong desire to browse that they can become quite destructive when forage is limited. Barley straw is the best all-rounder for most healthy donkeys, as it makes a good feeding and bedding straw and is readily available. However, here in the United States, straws for feed can be hard to find. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. We feel that donkeys that are free to eat and move as naturally as possible - in a similar way to their evolutionary pattern of roaming and foraging - suffer less from impaction colic compared to stabled animals. Report Last Updated on: March 17, 2023 with Barley Straw - $5 (Attica, Ohio) PRODUCT REVIEWS RELATED PRODUCTS Some donkeys, particularly the old or unwell, dont like drinking very cold water, so it may be a good idea to provide warm water in the winter, particularly if you are unsure if your donkey is drinking enough. RMDX6YCW - Barley Straw bales being used as a deterrent to Blue-Green Algae or 'pond scum' at Belhus Woods, Country Park, Essex, UK. How Much Does It Cost To Butcher A Cow? Therefore, I cant stressed enough the importance of careful weight management for donkey well-being. Studies suggest that this accumulation of fat in the neck could predispose donkeys to insulin regulation problems as well as laminitis. After the grain is removed from cereal crops such as barley, wheat and oats the long stem or stalk of the plant is left behind on the field. Before coming to us they had never seen straw and don't appear to know what to think of it. Others are grazed on specially designated winter grazing which allows the summer pastures time to rest and is beneficial for parasite control. What You Should Know About Donkey Eating Hay. However, a donkey ration balancer can help balance out any nutritional deficiencies in the grazing and forage provided. Oat straw is higher in calories than barley or wheat straw, it needs to be fed with caution to avoid weight gain so may be a good option for slimmer donkeys. Any straw fed to donkeys should be clean and dust- and mold-free, which can be challenging to find in the United States where straw is rarely grown with feeding in mind. As a nutritionist she works with all equids, from WEG competitors to Miniature donkeys and everything in between. Helps keep water clean and clear. Donkey Whisperer Farm Changing Donkeys Lives One Human At A Time. Is A Beef Steer Worth It? Hay produced from cow pasture usually has higher energy levels and may be less suitable if fed on its own. Our vets here are accustomed to mini donkeys and I trust their advise too. Copyright 2018-2023 PET | TAO Holistic Pet Products. Most people dont believe that you would feed that, but for the donkey thats probably the best type of foodstuff. 2-Pack Barley Straw Bales Treats 2,000 gallons MFG Part Number: 130 SKU: 671054 Categories: Home & Outdoor Living, Backyard Wildlife & Pond, Fish & Pond $12.99 Store Pickup Ship to Home Description Additional information Quantity Discounts 2 Pack, Barley Straw Bales, Treats 2000 Gallons, 2 Bales Per Bag. How Organized Are Your Horses Health Records? One of the most important tests run on a forage sample is the sugar content. According to them, wheat straw is more fibrous and can be difficult for young donkeys or donkeys with dental problems to chew and digest effectively. I suggested barley straw but she didn't agree to that either.So they just have hayto eat and a little grass. 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