- a CIISA, FMV, ULisboa, Portugal
- b Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, Coimbra, Portugal
- c CITAB-UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
- d Associação para o Estudo e Proteção do Gado Asinino, 5225–011 Atenor, Miranda do Douro, Portugal
- Received 15 January 2015, Revised 2 January 2016, Accepted 8 January 2016, Available online 9 January 2016
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Highlights
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- We assess feeding behaviour, diet selection and parasite level in grazing donkeys.
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- Donkeys showed a preference for herbaceous vegetation.
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- Despite this, donkeys can incorporate up to 30% of shrubs in their diet.
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- Parasite level increase was delayed in relation with existing information.
Abstract
The Miranda donkey (Equus asinus)
has an important role in the maintenance of rural landscape and
traditions in inland of Portugal. Breeding and keeping of these animals
rely on mountain pasture areas, known for their characteristic botanical
diversity. However, their grazing behaviour in these areas has not been
described and this knowledge is important to set the best management
practices that promote an efficient use of these particular feed
resources that could be related with parasitic level of these animals.
In this way, this study aimed to assess feeding behaviour, diet
selection, and relate the total phenolic and tannin content of ingested
plants with the parasite load in a group of Miranda donkeys under free
ranging system in natural mountain pastures. For this purpose, eight
adult non-pregnant Jennies from the Miranda donkey breed were managed
under continuous grazing on a 1.6 ha natural mountain pasture from late
May to late July. Body condition score (BCS) and grazing behaviour of
the Jennies was assessed in two different occasions. Additionally, the
level of gastrointestinal nematode infections of the herd was assessed
throughout the study. Results showed that animals spent 75.6% of total
observation time in search/prehension activities corresponding to an
average of 16 h/day. Jennies showed a preference for herbaceous species,
although they were able to incorporate in their diet up to 30% of
shrubs, suggesting that they can be used as biological tool for
controlling and reducing shrub encroachment in these mountain areas.
Parasite level increased from 0% positive samples in June to a maximum
of 25% in July. The increase of EPG may be related with the observed
decrease in the shrub consumption throughout the observation period.
Having in account the presence of phenolic and condensed tannins in
shrubs, their potential as natural anti-parasitic compounds and the
possibility of taking part in donkey diet, these preliminary results can
be of the utmost importance regarding an integrated approach of Miranda
donkey parasite control.
Keywords
- Donkeys;
- Diet selection;
- Gastrointestinal parasites;
- Tannins;
- Mountain pastures
Copyright © 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.
