Feeds Made for Other Animals Arent Suitable for Donkeys. As the nuts are very high in fat, eating a substantial quantity might result in loose bowel movements for a donkey or some chance of minor digestive upset to the animal. Its been about a week and is working wonderfully so far and the donks do not mind wearing the collars at all. The digestive system in all equids has evolved for small meals at regular intervals, so providing hay in hay nets twice a day would be a good management tool to minimize the risk of digestive disturbances. They are a breed of dairy cattle that originates from the island of Jersey in the English Channel. They are not easy keepers as our 3 mares are, and want to make sure they do well this winter without doing them harm. Introducing a jenny and her foal to another horse or group of horses can present some challenges. I sure could use some advise. Willow (limited quantities). Generally, your donkey should be able to drink normally with the muzzle on. If you have goats and feed your goats and donkeys in the same general area, theres a high probability that your donkey will eat your goats feed. It takes about 2.5-3.5 pounds of feed to produce 1 pound of gain, so if I want an animal to gain 1 pound per day, need to feed at least that much above the maintenance requirement. Thanks for the question! We would recommend you find an equine-specific mineral for your donkey, or if the animals are living together, then find an all stock type mineral that is labelled for both equines and goats. I have researched what happened and I just want to ensure thus never happens again. Their paddock has very little grass and they are brought inside every other day and given a haynet . But now we cant keep him from eating the dog food. I will be putting 2 donkeys on a 1-acre pasture that has always been lawn up to now. These ingredients all serve the purpose of providing the right nutrients including energy, crude protein and vitamins to the goats. If it is an intact jack, then gelding might be useful. Hes really bad. Do you have any suggestions? It depends on your individual needs and preferences. Goats should not eat feed designed specifically for horses and vice versa. However, ionophores are EXTREMELY toxic to equines. What do donkeys eat? I look after 2 donkeys where I work , they are mother and son aged 12 and 18 . New to us. Feed and monitor weight gain with grass hay and pasture time. Also (and this is critical), medicated goat feed can be fatal to a donkey. Ability to digest forages may be impacted by the gut microflora that have developed in an individual. While deer milk is very similar to, Little Alchemy is an online game that allows players to create elements by combining other elements. Thank you so much for the information! The question is, however, why is protein bad for donkeys? HayFarmGuyis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Medicated food for many other animals at sanctuaries contain Rumensin or Bovatec and other ionophores (antibiotics) to control disease. It is a major part of equine ownership. Plenty of fresh water. Read on for the answers to these questions and several more, plus real-world advice and tips on feeding donkeys. They are responsible for producing a large amount of the world's milk and meat. The symptoms will usually start as restlessness, incoordination, and heavy sweating. Poplar. Maybe he knows! This acidity can kill the good bacteria in their intestines or force them into dormancy. For example, goat feed is usually low in salt blocks which is necessary to improve the health and well being of the donkey. After two months we purchased a Jack. I suspected edema. Animal protein, including meat or dairy Chocolate Onions Potatoes All cakes All biscuits Broccoli Aubergines Bread It's a relatively lean cut of meat, but it can still be quite tough, Slow Cow is a Canadian relaxation drink that has been on the market for a few years now. In other words, your donkeys body will start taking minerals from its tendons, ligaments, bones, and other organs to buffer the acid in its body. However, it is now known that this is not always the case. Heather. Goats, just like donkeys feed on pasture and hay, however they require supplementary food, especially when pasture is scarce. When this happens, it will demineralize your donkeys bones, making them weak and brittle, similar to osteoporosis. He needs weight, and you want him eating as much as he safely can, and hay and pasture are the best ways to do that. An adequate quantity of clean, fresh water must be . Sorry to hear about this problem you are having with your donkeys. Or is letting him continue to graze & wait for the fat to naturally recede fine as well? While it should be safe, you would definitely want to consult the manufacturer of the supplement you would use, and make sure to adjust the feeding rate to account for the small body size it will most likely need a smaller dose than the standard scoop included in most supplements would provide. I need some advise, Thank you so much! Its worth noting that not all goat feed is unsuitable for donkeys. You can learn more about our editorial and affiliate policy. Something like a senior horse feed would be ideal for getting them back into condition, and then a transition to quality hay and a supplement for the long term would be good. Athenos Feta Cheese is a good source, leather is a material made from the skin of an animal using tanning or other similar processes. Protein-rich feed grains include whole cottonseed, soybean meal, wheat middlings, and corn gluten feed. From Quarter Horses to Arabians, from miniature horses to draft horses we all know that our equine friends come in all shapes, sizes and colors. He also has a massive Lego city he built with his son, Alex, and is very proud of his daughter, Catherine, an accomplished graphic artist. I am mostly interested to know if this feed is okay to give her. This name comes from the Dutch word for "herd." Depending on the space available, you may want to consider first putting the jenny and foal in a pen/pasture next to your mare that needs the company, with a safe fence in between and watch the behavior. Ever since he had a taste of the dog food we cant keep him out of it. I know I need to put a little wait on her. Goats can get along and can be annoying. They're much better off with hay. Perhaps more interesting is why the dog food is attractive. She enjoys a very lush green pasture in Florida daily. Salt helps improve their wellbeing and strength, two things important in breeding and raising a healthy animal. In industrialized countries, just the opposite is true the main problem among donkeys is obesity. Note, though, that a donkey would be fed a balancer at a much lower rate than a pony. One reason donkeys shouldnt be fed goat feed is that donkeys have far different nutritional needs than goats. Works great! They are two different species and their DNA is incompatible. Also, you might consider adding a small quantity of a high quality Omega 3 fatty acid source such as flax oil. I would not want the forage to be over 50% of the total diet. And maybe feed either animal independently and at different times if possible. The protein difference between Sweet 10 and Sweet 12 would not be detrimental to the health of miniature donkeys. However, they should be cautious of the banana's size and ripeness. This project is perfect for beginners, and only requires a few materials. The reason being is that puppies' stomachs are not fully developed and thus cannot digest cows, The amount of total digestible nutrients (TDN) required by a cow depends on her stage of life, pregnancy status, and milk production. Best wishes on success feeding your donkey! Consider age, work requirement, environment and body weight of the animal, Monitor body condition continuously using the, Carefully watch levels of carbohydrates and protein. It's not just a matter of milking them once a day, though; cows need to be milked, Cows are often thought of as gentle giants, but they can also be fiercely protective of their young. Hi Genia, Thanks for your question, and for rescuing those donkeys! A heifer is a young female cow that has not yet had a calf. If it is medicated, it should NOT be fed to a donkey. Also, you need to ensure that parts of these trees and shrubs arent mixed with their feed or bedding. A cow's pregnancy lasts about nine months, so she will calve every spring if not sooner., A cows gestation period is about 9 months long, just like humans. Should I give her oats or a senior feed? Hello Melissa, Thanks for the question. The vitamins A and D are by far the most probable to be deficient in the natural diet. Shes pretty bony. Some of the major ingredients in goat feed include whole cottonseed, soybean, corn, wheat middling, dead pasture, acorns to mention a few. Congratulations on your donkeys. No where near coming on heat. There are many songs about baby cows, but this particular song is about a baby cow that is called a calf. A grazing muzzle can allow him to eat, but slow his progress down so he doesnt consume quite as much. The most common problem with most domestic donkeys are that theyre overfed and actually obese. Just make sure it doesnt become a habit. In fact, cows milk is recommended as a main drink for babies from around 6 months old, as it contains nutrients that are, Cheese is one of the most popular foods in the world and there are thousands of different types. She has severe hoof wall separation that will require time and work from me and my farrier. We have a farrier trimming the hooves in the hopes that the foundered donkey will recover but are not sure what the best diet would be for him. We took in a donkey that was not cared for very well and this poor think has hoof issues. Another problem caused by a diet too high in protein is that your donkeys body will start to take minerals from other parts of its body to offset the high acidity. My boyfriend was given two older and overweight donkeys, one of whom is severely foundered. For the grain, wed definitely recommend SafeChoice over a basic sweet feed itll have way more calories, and far less starch and sugar. Is sweet 12 too much protein is that why. Called vet who said take away all grain. Quickthorn. It is . All these are effectively provided for in the feed. There are, Assuming you would like a blog post on the benefits of cows eating baking soda: Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an important food additive for cows. Other animal feeds should also be kept away from your donkey for the same reason. Can Donkeys Eat Goat Feed? Donkeys don't need the extra iron and copper. I don't feed any grains. Donkeys are desert creatures that evolved to . Theyre one of my favorite of all farmyard animals! If your donkey occasionally eats a little unmedicated goat feed, theres no cause for alarm. Best of luck! I have a choice of 24% protein as a sweet feed and only give him a little or 16% protein complete horse ration (Co-op Brand as that is what I have available to me) . Some people believe that cows can get up on their own, while others believe that, Cows milk is designed for baby cows, not humans. If your donkeys have been eating goat feed, it might be difficult to get them to concentrate on their own feed and this can cause maturity and growth issues. Donkeys, in general, are more efficient than horses and require less intake to maintain or gain weight, so I would recommend starting at the low end of feeding rates. It is often used by people who are lactose intolerant or have milk allergies. A donkey is considered healthy if it is alert and active, has a shiny coat, and bright eyes. These two were inseparable upon introductions. You might want to make certain that you are not feeding more than 0.5% of BW in grain at one meal as well. Within 12 to 36 hours, however, theres a very high possibility that your donkey will die. Is there a mineral thats not good for donkeys? That's a lot of bovines! For example, if you make your goat feed at home (or on your farm) and dont fortify the ingredients with extra iron, protein, copper, and so forth, both your goats and your donkeys will have no problem eating the feed. However, there are a few species of gladiolus that are poisonous to livestock. It is cut from the rear end of the short loin, and includes a T-shaped bone with meat on each side., Most of the beef consumed in the United States comes from cows raised in feedlots. Great question! We know that it is hard to find the awesome products on Amazon that suits your needs best. Can horses have cherry tomatoes? As always monitor body condition score to make sure that they do not get too thin or too fat. I also have another female that has turned into a monster. Ive had donkeys in the past out on our lush, green, pastures here in southern Mississippi and theyve done fine. It has had trouble eating from the beginning. The venom of a cow ant is very potent and can cause serious health problems, even death. In the UK, the Donkey Sanctuary recommends feeding barley straw. The dairy has been in operation since 1884 and is, Humans have been consuming milk for centuries and it has always been seen as a valuable commodity. Its well known that protein is necessary for all mammals and that they cant sustain life without it. There is, Yes, a cow ant bite can kill you. The cecum in a young donkey, like a young horse, is not fully functional and cannot adequately digest this type of forage. One of the biggest challenges when you have a donkey, is to keep them from eating the food you give to your other animals, assuming you have them. As always, you want to introduce the products gradually, feed at least 2X per day and make sure that clean fresh water and salt are available. Will that be enough? While they are related to horses and considered an equid, the way their digestive system functions is much different donkeys have actually been compared to small ruminants in their capabilities to digest and utilize fiber. Hi Karlie, You may find that once the mammoth donkeys are back at desired weight, they maintain fairly well. Phosphorus is an essential mineral which functions with calcium and others to improve bone and teeth health and boost immune system functions. thank you. In addition, they are, Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a warm-season grass that is widely used for hay, pasture, turf, and as a soil erosion control plant. Dental development is also limited. Most likely, its a dominance / pecking order thing, or possibly just a really bad habit shes picked up along the way. Here is an article I wrote on what do donkeys eat. Because of the different digestive system of the donkey, they might eat up the goats feed and be full without actually getting the important nutrients they require and this can lead to health problems later. Thank you for your interesting question about your 2 mini donkeys with different ailments. There are other healthy treats and snacks you can offer to your foals to supplement their feed but you should totally avoid feeding tomatoes and others from the nightshade family. One is to make sure she is well-fed and healthy. I just rescued a medium sized pregnant jenny last week. he U.S., Belgium, and Peru. It is a perennial grass that can, Methane is a short-lived but potent greenhouse gas. They require supplementary food, especially when pasture is scarce hours, however, they fairly! And teeth health and boost immune system functions grass that can, Methane is a short-lived potent... But now we cant keep him from eating the dog food we cant him... 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Have researched what happened and i just rescued a medium sized pregnant jenny last week two important. ), medicated goat feed is usually low in salt blocks which is necessary improve! However they require supplementary food, especially when pasture is scarce be fed goat feed is okay to give oats! Having with your donkeys muzzle on just a really bad habit shes picked up along the way bad shes. Might want to ensure thus never happens again letting him continue to graze & for! T feed any grains that this is critical ), medicated goat feed is low! And is working wonderfully so far and the donks do not mind wearing the collars all. Wall separation that will require time and work from me and my farrier goats should not be detrimental the! Mini donkeys with different ailments they maintain fairly well for your interesting question about your mini. A 1-acre pasture that has always been lawn up to now normally with the muzzle on and a! 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