Donkeys

Donkey Facts

A male donkey is called a jack.
A female donkey is called a jennet or jenny.
When a female horse and a male donkey mate, the resulting offspring is called a ‘mule’.
When a male horse and a female donkey mate, the offspring is called a ‘hinny’.
When a male zebra and a female donkey mate the offspring is called a ‘zedonk’ or ‘zebrass’.
All of these resulting offspring are sterile, i.e. they cannot produce offspring themselves.
Donkey’s milk was once valued as a medicine and was given to premature babies, sick children and to people suffering from tuberculosis. Donkey’s milk contains more sugar and protein than cow’s milk and less fat.
In Southern Spain there is a ‘giant’ pure breed of donkey called the ‘Andalusian-Cordobesa’, which can reach up to 16 hands high, that’s as big as a racehorse! The estimated number of Andalusian donkeys in 2013 was 400 to 500. A healthy population would be about 700.
Donkeys were first domesticated around 4500 years ago and, at one time were a status symbol of their owners’ wealth, rather like a Rolls Royce is today.
The donkey’s characteristic ‘Eee awe’ sound is made by an intake of breadth followed instantly by exhalation.