Species : Donkey

The use of animal-based measures collected in slaughterhouses to monitor the level of welfare of Equidae in establishments: EFSA scientific NCPs Network exercise

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Marika Vitali, Giulia Cecchinato, Aitana López Baquero, Beatrice Benedetti, Denise Candiani, Michaela Hempen, Yves Van der Stede, Chiara Fabris

Published in 2025

Exercise carried out by EFSA's scientific network of national contact points to identify and prioritize animal-based measures collected at abattoirs to retrospectively monitor the welfare of equidae, to provide evidence for a future scientific opinion.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Equines

Systematic Literature Review on Donkeys (Equus asinus): Husbandry and Welfare in Europe

Masebo NT, Benedetti B, Angeloni MG, Lee L, Bigi D, Padalino B.

Published in 2025

Review of 97 European studies showing that donkeys are mostly kept in extensive or semi-intensive systems, often with access to the outdoors. Nevertheless, recurrent management, nutritional and health problems (obesity, dental disorders, hoof problems) still compromise their welfare, stressing the need for specific care guidelines based on scientific data.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

The behavior and welfare of neglected species: some examples from fish and mammals

Bukhari SSUH, Parkes RSV, Sneddon LU, McElligott AG

Published in 2024

Synthesis of concepts and methods for assessing animal welfare through the study of behavior, illustrated by work on certain "neglected" species (buffalo, camels, donkeys, mules and lumpfish). The authors conclude that there is an extreme lack of balance in the species generally studied in research on animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Camelids, Equines, Fish, Ruminants

Keywords:Animal adaptation to environment, Animal-based measurement, Working animals, Welfare indicator, Animal mediation, Behavioral disorders

Go to document

Characterization of social behavior in a group of domestic donkeys (Equus asinus)

Miina Lõoke, Paolo Mongillo, Martina Bortoletti, Simona Normando, Lieta Marinelli

Published in 2023

Scientific article on the distribution aross the day of intraspecific social behaviors in a group of donkeys and characterizing affiliative and agonistic social interactions during periods of peak activity.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurement, Socialization

Go to document

European Parliament: written answer to question E-002217/23: Protection of Equidae

Question: Maria Spyraki (PPE). Answer: Protection of Equidae

Published in 2023

Answer to a question concerning the information available to the European Commission on the abuse of working equids in Member States, particularly in Greece, and its intentions to increase measures to combat equid abuse. 

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal adaptation to the environment, Societal issues, abuse, Human-animal relationship

Go to document

A systematic review of equid welfare at slaughter

K.A. Fletcher, G. Limon, L.J. Whatford, A. Grist, T.G. Knowles, T.J. Gibson

Published in 2022

Scientific review that reveals a lack of published studies assessing welfare levels in equines at slaughter, particularly donkeys and mules in low-income countries, and highlights the need to develop an evidence-based knowledge base to improve guidance in this area.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Awareness, Pain, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Stress

Go to document

Welfare of equidae during transport

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW): Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Virginie Michel, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler

Published in 2022

EFSA scientific opinion on the protection of equids during transport. Thirteen main welfare consequences were identified: gastroenteric disorders, handling stress, heat stress, injuries, isolation stress, movement stress, prolonged hunger, prolonged thirst, respiratory disorders, resting problems, restriction of movement, sensory hyperstimulation and separation stress. These welfare consequences and how they are measured on the animals are described. The hazards that cause them and recommendations to guard against these hazards and correct or mitigate their welfare consequences are presented.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Risk management, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Transport

Go to document

Donkey behaviour and cognition: a literature review

Marta De Santis, Samanta Seganfreddo, Morgana Galardi, Franco Mutinelli, Simona Normando, Laura Contalbrigo

Published in 2021

Scientific review summarising the areas covered by the scientific literature on donkey behaviour and cognition, and detailing the behavioural tests used for donkeys.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships,Welfare indicators

Go to document

Clinical insights: Recent advances in donkey medicine and welfare

Karen Rickards, Ramiro E. Toribio

Published in 2021

Editorial of a special issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal devoted to donkey health and welfare. It looks at pharmacology, diagnosis, disease prevalence and management practices for donkeys.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Welfare indicators, Breeding and rearing systems

Go to document

Validation of the Donkey Pain Scale (DOPS) for Assessing Postoperative Pain in Donkeys

Maria Gláucia Carlos de Oliveira, Valéria Veras de Paula, Andressa Nunes Mouta, Isabelle de Oliveira Lima, Luã Barbalho de Macêdo, Talyta Lins Nunes, Pedro Henrique Esteves Trindade, Stelio Pacca Loureiro Luna

Published in 2021

Scientific article proposing and testing a scale for acute pain in donkeys during castration. The proposed scale is both reliable and valid.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Pain, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Welfare indicators

Go to document