Means of Livelihood, Clean Environment to Women Empowerment: The Multi-Faceted Role of Donkeys

Ravichandran, Thanammal; Perumal, Ramesh K; Vijayalakshmy, Kennady; Raw, Zoe; Cooke, Fiona; Baltenweck, Isabelle; Rahman, Husna Abdul

doi:10.3390/ani13121927

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 40 publications

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“…They have been the preferred mode of transportation in mountainous regions since their domestication in the Middle East and Egypt around the 3rd millennium BCE [ 2 , 3 ]. Despite the advancement of mechanization in agriculture, donkeys remain extensively utilized in Africa and Asia [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Study of Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Local Mediterranean Donkey Breeds

Aroua,

Haj Koubaier,

Rekik

et al. 2024

Foods

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This study aimed to evaluate carcass and meat quality traits in Masri (n = 14) and North African (n = 14) male donkeys, raised in a semi-intensive breeding system, grazing on mountainous areas, with supplementation of 1 kg of barley per day per animal, slaughtered at 5 (±0.48) years old. Compared to Masri, the North African population exhibited higher (p < 0.05) final body weights (181.7 ± 2.1 and 212.5 ± 7.6 kg) and cold carcass weights (101.7 ± 1.3 and 116.2 ± 4.5 kg), but lower (p < 0.05) cold dressing percentages (56.0 ± 0.4 and 54.6 ± 0.4%). Meat quality analyses showed higher (p < 0.05) cooking loss values in Masri meat (43.9 ± 0.8 vs. 39.9 ± 1.2%). Among the meat color parameters, the hue value was higher (p < 0.05) in North African samples (0.42 ± 0.01 vs. 0.39 ± 0.1). Meat from North African donkeys had higher (p < 0.05) dry matter, fat, and protein contents. Meat amino acid analysis revealed abundant levels of lysine, leucine, and methionine, in both populations. Donkey meat from both populations presented a high polyunsaturated fatty acids content, resulting in polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids and omega 6/omega 3 ratios for all breeds close to the recommended values for human health. Atherogenic and thrombogenic indices were also suggested to have positive effects on consumers’ artery health. The characteristics of donkey meat present intriguing nutritional aspects compared to ruminant meat, and its production should be encouraged in the rural development of inner-Mediterranean areas.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Study of Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Local Mediterranean Donkey Breeds

Aroua,

Haj Koubaier,

Rekik

et al. 2024

Foods

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What Is a Working Equid? Analysis of Current Terminology and a Suggested Definition

Raw,

Collins,

Burden

2024

Animals

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Equids are engaged in myriad types of work across the world, with contexts and industries varying widely between high-, middle- and low-income countries as classified by the World Bank. Through a comprehensive abstract search and literature review, we examined the usage and context of terms associated with working equids in high-income countries (HICs), upper-middle-income countries (UMICs), lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), and low-income countries (LICs). Analysis showed that the search term used was significantly associated with World Bank country income classification. All search terms except two returned a significantly higher number of papers for higher-income countries compared to lower-income countries. The two exceptions were “working equid” and “draft equid”, which returned significantly more papers for lower-income countries than higher-income countries. Both terms also returned papers from high-income and upper-middle-income countries, but these were always in the context of low-resource settings and rural or marginalised communities, of which we provide examples in the discussion. We propose that the term “working equid” should be used to describe “any equid engaged in physical labour that provides a significant or direct contribution to the economic livelihood or sustenance of its owner/user within a low resource setting”. Our review highlights the intricate interplay between socioeconomic factors and examines how equids are described in the literature. The lack of a universally accepted definition leads to challenges in policy formulation, resource allocation, and welfare standards development, particularly in LMICs and LICs where working equids are crucial to livelihoods. This study underscores the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to terminology, advocating for future research to bridge linguistic and cultural gaps in understanding working equids globally. Such efforts are vital for equitable and effective welfare standards and policy development for these animals.

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Reproductive Disorders in Donkeys: Current Evidence and Update

Wang,

Zeng,

Wang

et al. 2024

Animals

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Reproductive disorders in donkeys present a significant challenge to their health and welfare, impacting their roles in agriculture, conservation, and companionship. With the development of large-scale donkey farming in recent years, reproductive disorders have become a limiting factor for the expansion of the donkey population. In general, donkeys suffer from a similar array of diseases like horses, but little is known about the specificities of donkey reproductive disorders. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the pathogenesis, distribution, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of a diverse array of reproductive disorders affecting donkeys. There are similar infectious and non-infectious causes for infertility and pregnancy loss in jennies compared with mares, but a difference in disease susceptibility does exist, which may be attributed to genetic influence, pathogen specificity, the environment, and reproductive management practices. Diagnostic and treatment plans need to be tailored towards the particularities of donkey reproductive disorders to increase donkey populations and to enhance the standard of care for this species. Enhancing reproductive health in donkeys not only ensures their sustainable use but also promotes their welfare and longevity in diverse human–animal interactions.

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Means of Livelihood, Clean Environment to Women Empowerment: The Multi-Faceted Role of Donkeys

Cited by 3 publications

References 40 publications

Comparative Study of Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Local Mediterranean Donkey Breeds

Comparative Study of Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Local Mediterranean Donkey Breeds

What Is a Working Equid? Analysis of Current Terminology and a Suggested Definition

Reproductive Disorders in Donkeys: Current Evidence and Update

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