Bourbonnais Donkey

Bourbonnais Donkey
head of a chocolate-coloured donkey
At the Salon International de l'Agriculture in Paris, 2010
Conservation status
  • FAO (2007): no data[1]
  • SAVE (2008): endangered[2]: 26 
  • DAD-IS (2025): at risk/critical-maintained[3]
Other namesÂne Bourbonnais
Country of originFrance
DistributionBourbonnais
StandardMinistère de l'Agriculture (in French)
Traits
Height
  • Male:
    1.20–1.35 m[4]
  • Female:
    1.18–1.28 m[4]
Coatchocolate, bay or dark bay, with darker dorsal stripe and shoulder-stripe[5]

The Bourbonnais Donkey, French: Âne Bourbonnais, is a French breed of domestic donkey from the historic region of the Bourbonnais, which corresponds roughly with the modern département of Allier, in the Auvergne region of central France. It was in the past used as a pack animal, for hauling barges, and to pull light gigs. The breed was recognised by the Ministère de l'Agriculture, the French ministry of agriculture, in 2002. The stud-book is kept by the Association de l'Ane Bourbonnais, an association of breeders.[6]

History

The first records of donkeys in the Bourbonnais date from 1862, when there were about 6000;[7] by the beginning of the twentieth century there were 7700.[4] In the 1970s the number had fallen to about 500, and when the Association de l'Ane Bourbonnais was formed in 1994, it identified barely 50.

The breed was officially recognised in October 2002 by the Ministère de l'Agriculture, the French ministry of agriculture, and the Haras Nationaux, the national stud.[4] The stud-book for the breed is maintained by the association;[6] in 2014 almost 200 animals were registered.[4] A total of 328 animals was reported to DAD-IS for 2022, including 204 breeding jennies; in 2025 the conservation status of the breed was "at risk/critical-maintained".[3]

Characteristics

Jacks measure 1.25–1.35 m, jennies 1.18–1.28 m or up to 2 cm more.[4][5] The coat is chocolate brown, bay or dark bay, with a darker dorsal stripe and shoulder stripe; the legs may show zebra-striping. The lower part of the muzzle is grey-white, as is the belly.[5]

Use

Like the larger Grand Noir du Berry from slightly further north, the Bourbonnais was used as a pack animal to carry vegetables, coal, milk and the like, and also as a draught animal both for agricultural work and to haul barges on the canals of the region.[8]: 66  In the early twentieth century it was also used to pull light gigs to transport visitors to the fashionable spa at Vichy.[9] In the twenty-first century it is used as a pack animal for hiking, or for light driving.[10]: 243 

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bourbonnais donkey.
  1. ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ Waltraud Kugler, Hans-Peter Grunenfelder, Elli Broxham (2008). Donkey Breeds in Europe: Inventory, Description, Need for Action, Conservation; Report 2007/2008. St. Gallen, Switzerland: Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe. Archived 2 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b Breed data sheet: Âne Bourbonnais / France (Ass). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f L'âne Bourbonnais (in French). Haras nationaux Accessed July 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Pierre Schwartz (10 December 2013). Annexe I: Standard de l'Âne Bourbonnais (in French). Annex to: Arrêté du 10 décembre 2013 modifiant l'arrêté du 14 novembre 2002 portant approbation du règlement du stud-book français de l'âne bourbonnais, Ministère de l'alimentation, de l'agriculture et de la pêche. In: Journal officiel "Lois et Décrets". 0293, 18 December 2013: 20526. Accessed July 2014.
  6. ^ a b L'Association (in French). Association de l'Ane Bourbonnais. Archived 23 September 2015.
  7. ^ La population asine bourbonnaise (in French). Association de l'Ane Bourbonnais. Archived 23 September 2015.
  8. ^ Serge Farissier (2007). L'Âne bourbonnais (in French). In: L'âne. Editions Artemis. ISBN 9782844166425.
  9. ^ Historique (in French). Association de l'Ane Bourbonnais. Archived 23 September 2015.
  10. ^ Lætitia Bataille (2008). Âne Bourbonnais (in French). In: Races équines de France. France Agricole Éditions. ISBN 9782855571546.



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