Sicilian Donkey

Donkeys can be used as work animals. In the past, as in this present time, donkeys can be ridden, can pull carts or wagons, can be used to turn thresher machines, and even draw water out of wells. Donkeys require less food than oxen, cattle or horses for the amount of work they perform. They do not require much water and can survive by eating just grass and hay. These animals can work up past 40 years of age. They are resistant to many diseases. Donkey milk contains more sugar and protein than cow's milk and would be given to infants and the sick. The meat of a donkey is eaten by people in China and the Middle East. In past ages, parchment was made of the skin of donkeys. It was more valuable then any other kind of parchment.

Donkeys were brought to South America when the Spaniards conquered it in the 16th century. Because  of their sure-footedness, they were used as work animals in the steep and rugged terrain of the Andes Mountains in  Peru and in Chile.

Sicilian donkeys are smaller than many other kinds of donkeys. They are the only form of transportation on Pantelleria Island. They are short enough to easily mount and they walk instead of gallop.

Sicilian donkeys are less than 1.5 m in height, yet taller than 1 m., which is the height of the Macedonian donkey.

The domestic burro, or donkey, was first used by humans in Egypt about 5000 years ago, according to archaeologists and horse trainers. With its short, stocky build, patient disposition, and tolerance for heat, the sure-footed donkey found a very prominent role as a pack animal as well as a puller of ploughs. Because of their usefulness, burros have been introduced to almost every corner of the globe. Wild populations descended from escaped work animals can be found in Australia, the United States, the West Indies, and the Galopagos Islands. Because of their adaptability—tolerance for the loss of body fluids and the ability to go for days without a drink—feral donkeys have become a serious threat to local wildlife by competing for vegetation and disrupting the food chains. Cousins of the horse, donkeys have a similar, but stockier build. They come in a variety of sizes, ranging from miniature stock (under 36 inches) to mammoth individuals (over 56 inches). Most animals are 48-54 inches at the shoulder. They also come in a range of colors: black, white, and a variety of browns and  grays. Some have combinations of two or more colors, usually with white under their bodies, on the tips of their muzzles, and around the eyes. Unfortunately, donkeys have an ill-founded reputation for being stubborn animals. Actually, they are very intelligent and friendly, making them popular with children. A considerable amount of confusion exists concerning the difference between donkeys, burros, and mules. Actually, “burro” is the Spanish word for donkey, so they are really the same animal. A mule, on the other hand, is a cross between a female horse and a male donkey. Donkeys can be very long-lived (over 60 years old),but normally, a 40-year-old donkey is considered old.