Donkeys are among the most heavily used working animals globally, yet they receive less welfare attention than horses. Understanding their unique needs is essential to improving lives across low-income contexts.
Working donkeys in low-income contexts face cumulative welfare challenges: excessive loads, ill-fitting harnesses causing chronic sores, dental neglect, and inadequate feed and water during working periods. Their stoic nature means pain goes unrecognised until severe. Community-based veterinary outreach, harness fitting programmes, and owner education have demonstrated that welfare improvements are achievable even in resource-limited settings — and that they deliver measurable productivity and livelihood benefits.