Farm Animals

DONKEY

 

DONKEY, mammal also known as a jackass. The domestic ass was probably derived from the African wild ass.

Smaller than the horse, the domestic donkey and African wild ass stand about 1.25 m (about 4.1 ft) high at the shoulder. They have very long ears, a gray coat with white under parts and muzzle, a short, erect mane, and a tail with a tuft of long hair only at the tip.

The ass was domesticated by the Egyptians about 4000 BC; it is more surefooted than the horse, which makes it better on mountain trails. It also lives longer than the horse—generally from 25 to 50 years. The African wild ass can run up to 50 km/h (up to 30 mph).

In the United States the donkey has been used as a beast of burden and for the breeding of mules, which are hybrids produced by mating mares and jackasses (see Mule). Small donkeys, or burros, played a major role as pack animals in opening up the western United States.