Guard Donkeys, Mules Protect Against Predators

Goat and Sheep Farmers Use Burros to Watch Their Herds

Donkeys are loyal, economical guardians against herd predators like coyotes, foxes, and bobcats. They also sound a loud alarm for all types of intruders.

Donkeys, or burros, possess natural herding instincts combined with an innate aggressive dislike for coyotes and similar predators. Donkeys are capable of killing a dog or coyote. Their braying is a warning that these predators recognize and tend to avoid.

Goat and sheep farmers from Canada to Texas are using donkeys and mules to guard their herds from predators. Many people also use them as nannies with their horse and pony herds, especially weanlings and yearlings.

Why Donkeys and Mules Make Good Herd Guardians

Mules, offspring of a male donkey bred to a horse, also carry the natural animosity and aggressiveness toward such predators and are used as herd guardians, though donkeys are generally preferred.

Donkeys are fast on their feet and have a lightening kick that carries a punch, as do mules. Both animals have strong teeth and jaws carried on strong necks. These physical attributes give them muscle against predators.

They have their limitations in situations involving a pack of several predators that can circle them, as any lone guardian animal will have. Further, a donkey or mule cannot defend so well against large predators such as bears and mountain lions, although there are some documented incidents of mules winning bouts with mountain lions.

The coyote, though, a predator which is becoming increasingly prevalent even in residential areas, has a natural healthy respect for donkeys and will tend to avoid them. Donkeys have been known to kill coyotes.

It is the mutual aversion between donkeys and coyotes and dogs that make donkeys effective babysitters for sheep and goat ranchers. In addition, donkeys are easy keepers, and fit well into the herd environment.

Using Guard Donkeys or Mules to Protect Herds and Farmyards

Standard and mammoth donkeys are the type to use. Miniatures are not big enough to serve guard duty.

Ideally a donkey will be raised with a herd of sheep or goats to become their protector naturally. A female donkey (jenny) is preferable, although gelded males have been used with some success. Ungelded jacks do not work.

Alternatively, one can select an individual young adult female donkey and introduce her to the herd. Once a donkey has bonded with her herd she will become its protector.

Similarly a donkey will be territorial and protective of her farmyard environment and announce intruders, animal and human, with loud braying. A donkey alarm can be heard for quite a distance.

Because individual animals have their idiosyncrasies, it must not be assumed that every donkey or mule will automatically be a good guard animal. In the early stages of herd introduction, the donkey's behavior with the herd must be monitored to be sure of compatibility, bonding and good guardianship.

Guard donkeys work best with sheep or goat herds of 100 or less ranging in a reasonable size range. If the distance is too far flung, meaning that herd individuals will be widely separated, the donkey's ability to be effective will be limited.

Similarly, a large herd puts too much demand on a single guard animal's capability. One guard donkey per pasture or group is recommended for effective protection.

Because donkeys have a natural adversity to dogs, working guard donkeys in proximity with sheep dogs may be dicey. Management of herd duties between the donkey and the herd dogs will be an important dynamic to plan out. On the other hand, donkeys are naturally docile with people, unless given a very good reason not to be.

Many breeders of horses and ponies use donkeys to protect their herds when out at pasture. Jennies are good babysitters for weanlings and yearlings.

Feeding Guard Donkeys with the Herd and General Care

An advantage of guard donkeys and mules is that they are easy keepers. They do well grazing with the herd.

A caution is to be sure that donkeys do not eat rich grain, hay or overly lush grass high in protein. These feeds will make them prone to obesity, founder and other metabolic illnesses such as hyperlipaemia.

Other care requirements of donkeys and mules are fairly minimal. Compared to horses, they are inexpensive animals to keep and manage. They need their feet trimmed from time to time and should have inoculations and general vet care recommended for equines in their geographic region. Their legs are susceptible to bleeding and scabbing from biting flies, which is something to watch over in fly season.

With proper care and management guard donkeys and mules can be expected to serve for 10 to 15 years.

Source: Linda Ashar. http://suite101.com