Big Poitevin Mules by Crossing a Poitou Donkey with a Mulassiere

Large French mules were strong and hardy, but they are now very rare.

Mules are produced by mating a male donkey with a female horse. The offspring acquires a combination of characteristics from both parents – they are neither horses nor donkeys.

 

Baudet de Poitou, or Mammoth Poitou Donkey

The Baudet was developed around Poitiers in France specifically to produce large mules, that were exceptionally good working animals. Mules are stronger than horses of an equivalent size, so big mules are very tough animals:

• Characteristic features of the Baudet, in addition to its enormous size include very big ears and a long shaggy coat.

• Extremely matted and tangled coats are favoured, and animals with good 'cadanettes' are the most valuable.

• Although Baudets were once common in the region, they are now becoming rare, and breeders usually prefer to use them to produce more donkeys, rather than to cross them with horse mares and 'waste' a year.

Mulassiere Mares

The same region in France (Poitou-Charente) also has a very large breed of working horse, the 'Mulassiere'.

These have become rare now, and as with the Poitou donkey breeders tend to concentrate on keeping the breed alive rather than producing sterile mules.

Poitevin Mules

Mules are very strong and were used for heavy farm work. They can appear stubborn at times, but that is probably because they are more intelligent than horses or donkeys.

A horse can be made to work until it is harmed, but a mule refuses to put itself in danger. If urged to do something that it considers foolhardy a mule will simply dig its heels in and refuse (very sensible!).

The Poitevin Mule was an animal designed to benefit from these mule characteristics, while breeding the largest animal possible.

Rare Farm Breeds

Many local breeds of farm animals are either very rare or extinct (see ' Mangalitza Wooly Pig ' as a good example ).

Intensive farming relies on a small number of 'modern' breeds for meat production, and working farm animals have now been replaced by tractors. There is simply no longer much need for large, strong, animals.

The only hope for the survival of these rare breeds lies in the hands of enthusiasts – people who accept the challenge of keeping them and their characteristics alive.

It is not surprising that enthusiasts who are dedicated to preserving the Poitou Donkey (or the Mulassiere Horse) should be more concerned about establishing a good stock of these animals, rather than crossing them to produce mules.

The Poitevin Mule is now an extremely rare animal, but as long as the Poitou Donkey and the Mulassiere Horse survive there is hope for them. It would be possible to produce them again in the future.

Source: John Blatchford. http://suite101.com