The best diet for most healthy, adult donkeys is primarily based on straw, supplemented with a little hay, haylage, or grass, and a vitamin and mineral supplement. This composition ensures they receive the necessary fibre without excessive calories or rich nutrients that can be detrimental to their health.
Understanding the Ideal Donkey Diet
Donkeys are naturally adapted to thrive on sparse, fibrous vegetation, unlike horses who are often accustomed to richer pastures. Their digestive system is highly efficient at extracting nutrients from poor-quality forage. Therefore, a diet too rich in sugars and proteins, such as lush grass or large amounts of high-quality hay, can lead to health problems like laminitis, obesity, and hyperlipaemia.
Based on guidance from 30-May-2023, the core components of a healthy donkey diet include:
- Straw: This should form the bulk of the diet.
- Hay or Haylage or Grass: Provided in limited quantities to add variety and potentially slightly more nutrients than straw alone.
- Vitamin and Mineral Supplement: Essential to ensure all nutritional needs are met, as straw and lower-quality forage may be deficient in certain micronutrients.
Dietary Proportions: Straw is Key
The proportion of straw in a donkey's diet is crucial and varies slightly with the season:
- Summer: Straw should make up approximately 75% of the diet.
- Winter: Straw should make up approximately 50% of the diet.
This ensures they get sufficient fibre throughout the year, helping to keep their digestive system healthy and preventing them from consuming too many calories, especially when grass might be more available or they require slightly more energy for warmth in winter.
Here is a simple breakdown of the straw proportion:
| Season | Approx. Proportion of Diet |
|---|---|
| Summer | 75% Straw |
| Winter | 50% Straw |
The remaining percentage is made up of the limited hay/haylage/grass and the essential vitamin and mineral supplement.
Practical Feeding Tips
- Always provide access to fresh, clean water.
- Feed little and often, mimicking natural grazing behaviour.
- Ensure forage is readily available to prevent long periods without food, which can lead to digestive upset.
- Monitor your donkey's body condition regularly and adjust feed amounts as needed under veterinary or expert guidance.
- Introduce any changes to the diet gradually over several days to avoid digestive issues.
Focusing on a diet rich in straw and low in rich forage is fundamental to maintaining the health and well-being of most adult donkeys.
