Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Some large donkey breeds such as the Asino di Martina Franca, the Baudet de Poitou and the Mammoth Jack are raised only for mule production. Place enough straw in the feeder so that they can browse through it. This type of hay provides a much lower energy source than early cut hay and for that reason it is fine for feeding to donkeys. Always consult a qualified veterinarian if you suspect poisoning of any kind. CAUTION: Aniseed, Dill (safe in small quantities). Symptoms of chronic oxalate-related poisoning include colic, diarrhoea, lameness and swelling of the head (Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism or Big Head syndrome). Professional advice should be sought. Symptoms of poisoning include excessive salivation. But, if you eat spinach, this won’t be a problem for you. Celery, Chervil / Garden Chervil / French Parsley, Coriander / Cilantro / Chinese Parsley / Dhania, Cow Parsley, Dill. Donkeys have a sweet tooth and can put on weight easily if they eat the wrong foods, or too much lush grass or rich hay, which can lead to potential health problems. The safety of plants is… Yes, bearded dragons can eat spinach, but there is a catch associated with it. If your pasture is dominated by endophyte-infected grass, you may need to consult a local agronomist for advice on pasture management. It wasn’t until my family started growing spinach in our own garden that I learned to love it’s tender, sweet, fresh-picked leaves in a salad or lightly stir fried with lemon and butter. Donkeys on a forage only diet may not obtain all of the required vitamins and minerals from the straw, grass and hay in their diets. Symptoms of poisoning from infected grass or hay include tremors, weakness and drooling. Do not suddenly introduce freshly cut hay to the donkey’s diet as it could cause colic or laminitis. Donkeys with access to grass all year round won’t require much hay, even during the winter months. Safe Trees and Shrubs for Donkeys The Donkey Sanctuary UK, Poisonous Plants and Trees The Donkey Sanctuary UK, Plants Poisonous to Horses: An Australian Field Guide Mellisa Offord, Which Grass is Best for Horses and What to Avoid greenpet.com, Ergot Intoxication in Perennial Ryegrass National Center for Biotechnology Information, Database of Toxic Plants in the United States University of Idaho, Information on controlling Ergot Toxicity in Cereals Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Producers finding ergot in cereal crops, grasses due to wet spring The Prairie Star, Molds and Mycotoxins in Horse Feed The Horse.com, Grasses, Rushes & Sedges Naturespot.org.uk. Water is perhaps the most essential of all nutrients since without it life cannot continue for longer than a few days, or less in adverse conditions. Always provide a suitable balancer or mineral lick and permanent access to a clean water supply. Some opt for every other day or only at the weekend. Domesticated donkeys vary in size, depending on how they are bred. One of the most common misconceptions about cats is that they do not need vegetables. You’ll need a ticket. A diet that’s deficient in folate, one of the B-vitamins (B9), can cause all sorts of problems. Soaking times vary so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. They are a worthwhile addition to the normal food ration in winter and early spring when fresh grass is not available. Even if the cartoon acknowledges Popeye's immense strength to begin with (later ones from the Famous era make him much weaker before spinach), consumption of the vegetable augments Popeye's physical might to the extreme, allowing the viewer to enjoy a power fantasy and enabling the sail… It is best to try and build up a good relationship with your hay supplier to make sure you have a consistent supply of good, clean hay suitable for feeding to your donkeys. Grass infected with ergot can be identified by the presence of long black or purple structures where the seeds should be. Hay produced from cow pasture usually has higher energy levels and may be less suitable if fed on its own. These spinach-stuffed crepes are intended for breakfast, but you could just as easily eat them for lunch or dinner. Some donkeys, particularly the old or unwell, don’t like drinking very cold water, so it may be a good idea to provide warm water in the winter, particularly if you are unsure if your donkey is drinking enough. Some owners limit grazing to fifteen minutes or half an hour each day, some an hour, or two or three. Overeating bark, twigs or leaves can lead to colic. During the spring and summer the donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary have access to restricted grazing. Donkeys kept indoors require a floor-level feed bin or corner-floor feeder placed so that feed cannot get soiled. ( Log Out /  The amount donkeys can safely graze also depends on the health, condition and metabolism of each individual, which explains why there is such variation in practices. Some plants are common feed for donkeys and mostly problem-free – but with some instances of toxicity. Knowing what donkeys eat is not enough in maintaining donkeys. B-vitamins are critical to brain function, especially for memory health. Plants listed here as Safe may only be suitable for donkeys in small quantities – as extras to the diet. Your Cart is Empty. It’s advisable to fence off trees bearing fruit and nuts, as eating too much can cause colic. ( Log Out /  If you are unsure about the suitability of locally available haylage as donkey food, we would recommend having it analysed (most of the large horse feed companies provide this service for a small fee) or feeding a commercially available equine haylage marketed as ‘laminitic safe’. A donkey is a grazing animal and most often eats hay and other feeds. Although you do not have to worry if your cat tastes like spinach it’s best not to put this vegetable in your hairy friend’s diet. 0. ( Log Out /  Safe Trees are safest in limited quantities. Bran is not suitable feed for donkeys as it is high in phosphorus levels and can lead to the depletion of calcium levels. I've just pruned mine and if they are safe for donkeys I would rather they ate them than me burn them :) Note: Safety of grass for pasture and forage can depend on pasture management, harvesting methods and environmental factors. Is spinach safe for dogs to. Others are grazed on specially designated winter grazing which allows the summer pastures time to rest and is beneficial for parasite control. Care must be taken that the donkey does not eat the pellets too quickly, as it may cause colic, so add water and mix with a small quantity of low sugar chaff when introducing pellets for the first time. The safety of plants for any individual donkey depends upon a wide range of factors. Crushing and soaking in boiling water for 2 hours is advised. Change ). If there are any signs of mould or yeast growth on a bale once opened it should be discarded, as should any uneaten haylage as this could be toxic to the donkeys. Symptoms of Ergot Alkaloid Toxicosis (Ergotism) include lameness, tremors, loss of coordination and gangrene. In addition to the restricted grazing our donkeys always have access to barley straw to ensure they are getting plenty of fibre to meet their nutritional needs. Spinach boosts memory. It’s great to give donkeys access to a wide range of plants and herbs in addition to their main diet. All changes to their diet should be made gradually, over at least 7-14 days. Too many additional calories adds a risk that the donkey could put on excess weight, which has associated risks of developing health conditions such as laminitis and hyperlipaemia. Products marketed for equines prone to laminitis are a good choice because they are usually high in fibre and low in sugar. We only eat baby spinach raw over here. Avoid any pellets containing cereals grains as these are not suitable for feeding to donkeys. Poisonous Plants often don’t appeal to donkeys and in most cases they will only resort to eating them if there is little else available, or if they are bored. We were always urged to “eat your spinach, and be like Popeye”. Haylage can be very variable in terms of nutritional levels; some haylage may be too high in energy to feed to donkeys. Veterinary care should be sought immediately if you suspect poisoning of any kind, colic or any signs of ill health in your donkey. Gently wash 300g spinach leaves in a bowl under a cold, running tap then tip into a colander to drain. In rare cases it can be fatal. It’s also one of our favorite dark leafy greens: tender, juicy, and endlessly useful in the kitchen. Silage is not suitable for feeding to donkeys because the moisture level is usually too high, with a low pH, as well as a low fibre and high protein level. Pregnant mares and foals are especially susceptible to ergot alkaloids. Brown blotch disease, identified by brown spots on the underside of the leaves, has also been known to affect some clovers. Cutting into chunks or sticks may reduce the risk of choking. Home; Shop; Blog; About Us; FAQ; Contact Us; info@livelypaws.com; info@livelypaws.com; 0. In special circumstances old or sick donkeys eat additional high fibre feeds and supplements to help maintain their body weight. Ergot Alkaloids are most common in Perennial Ryegrass although they can occur in Paspalum, Phalaris, Triticale, Brome, Couch Grass, Crested Wheatgrass, Feather Grass, Fescue, Foxtail Grass, Orchard Grass, Red Top, Timothy, Wheat, Barley, Oat and wild grasses. Wild donkeys typically grow to around 49 inches (125 centimeters) from hoof to shoulder and weight around 551 lbs. If you plan to feed your donkeys hay during the winter months, ensure you have enough forage in store to see you through the winter as supplies could run out before the winter is over. Consider feeding your donkey chaff, a mixture of chopped up hay and/or straw. Donkey nutrition varies from animal to animal - here's a more comprehensive guide for you to follow. Grain Legumes and Pulses such as Broad Beans, Chickpeas, Lima Beans and Red Kidney Beans contain lectins and other harmful substances. By Bill Bradle y. June 23, 2015. spinach-fitness-popeye.jpg. There's no question that spinach is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. It’s even seasonally versatile; it grows in colder months, but then when you can’t find it fresh and local anymore, there is excellent frozen spinach to be had for soups and stir-fries. If you are unsure about the safety of plants, pasture or feed, or the best diet for your donkey, you should seek professional advice. You should control the amount of grass and hay the donkeys eat each day to maintain ideal body condition. Donkeys prefer to browse for their bulk and fibre throughout the day. Contradictory and confusing answers have been given as to whether it is healthy and safe to feed cats with this food. If your pasture is dominated by these grasses, grazing for long periods is not advisable and calcium and phosphorus supplements may be required. It is known by various names including la pesta equine (Spain), pesta ecvina (Romania), equine plague, and horse sickness fever. Clovers along with Alfalfa, Lespedezia, Soybean and Lupins have been known to be infected with the Rhizoctonia leguminicola fungus, which can cause Slaframine poisoning if consumed in large quantities. We recommend feeding donkeys quality barley straw as it is high in fibre and low in sugar, and closely resembles the food that a donkey would eat in the wild. Carrots, apples, bananas, pears, turnips and swedes are all safe and usually very popular with donkeys. The list of vegetables he can have in smaller, snack-size quantities reads like a plateful of stuff kids won’t eat, but your horse might: collard greens, chard, kale, broccoli, turnips, spinach and radishes. Donkey nutrition varies from animal to animal depending on their age and health requirements. During the winter months some of our donkeys are housed in large airy barns with concrete run-out yards, without access to grass. Awareness of toxic and potentially toxic plants, good pasture management and food storage, watching out for symptoms, buying forage and seed from a reputable distributor and regular testing will further reduce the risk of poisoning. Please note: Plant safety depends on numerous factors, which need to be taken into account by individual owners. 15 Surprisingly Delicious Ways to Eat Spinach. African horse sickness (AHS) is a viral disease of horses, donkeys, and mules, which can be highly fatal in susceptible animals (Fig. Haylage is semi-wilted grass that has been allowed to dry to only 55-65% dry matter (as compared to 85% in hay). CAUTION: African Star Grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual Ryegrass, CAUTION: Mountain Hydrangea (unsafe in large quantities), CAUTION: Alfalfa / Lucerne, Birdsfoot Trefoil (prone to, CAUTION: Lemon Balm, Balm Mint, Lavender, Mint, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme (these are safe but not suitable for pregnant mares), CAUTION: Fig / Common Fig (tree sap can cause skin irritation, unripe fruit contains latex), UNSAFE: Eucalyptus (highly toxic if ingested, essential oil used as a topical treatment in herbal remedies), Jambul / Java Plum, CAUTION: Walnut / English / Common Walnut (lower levels of juglone than the highly toxic Black Walnut but potential for poisoning not clear), Which Grass is Best for Horses and What to Avoid, Database of Toxic Plants in the United States, Information on controlling Ergot Toxicity in Cereals, Producers finding ergot in cereal crops, grasses due to wet spring, https://donkeywise.org/shopping/equipment/, Off the beaten track: 1920s Eve leads the way with a donkey by her side, New Forest Donkeys and a Taste for Freedom, Tink: the little donkey who dared to be different, Extra Special: Secrets of a Therapy Donkey. 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