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Most people know exactly one donkey: grey, medium-sized, friendly. In fact, the range extends from animals that barely look over the back of a large dog to giants with shaggy coats that at first glance could be mistaken for anything but a donkey.
We regularly visit farms in Germany and see very different animals. This overview shows the most important breeds, how to recognize them — and why some of them barely exist today.
How many donkey breeds are there in total?
No one seriously gives an exact number. Well over a hundred breeds and regional types are distinguished worldwide, although the boundaries are often fluid: what is considered its own breed in one region is merely a local variant elsewhere.
They all descend from the same ancestor — the African wild ass. That is why they also share the same identifying mark, the cross on the donkey's back, regardless of size and coat color.
The domestic donkey — the classic
When someone says "donkey", they usually mean this one: medium-sized, mostly grey to grey-brown, with a clearly visible dorsal stripe and shoulder cross.
- Size: about 1.10 to 1.40 m at the withers
- Coat: short to medium-length, mostly grey, rarely brown or black
- Distribution: worldwide, the most common form in Germany
The domestic donkey is not a strictly defined breed, but rather a collective term. On most German farms we visit, animals from this group are kept.
The miniature donkey — small, but no toy
Miniature donkeys originally come from the Mediterranean region, especially Sardinia and Sicily. They are significantly smaller than the domestic donkey, but neither fragile nor less stubborn.
- Size: under about 1.05 m at the withers
- Character: lively, curious, very sociable when well cared for
- Popular in hobby keeping — which does not mean they are low-maintenance
A common misconception: small donkeys need less space. Exercise requirements do not depend on body size. Miniature donkeys also cover considerable distances when allowed to roam freely.
The Poitou — the rarest among them
The Poitou — French: Baudet du Poitou — comes from the eponymous region in western France and looks like no other donkey. We recently visited two of them, and the first impression is hard to describe: These animals are massive, almost horse-like, and completely covered in long hair.
- Size: about 1.40 to 1.50 m — significantly larger than the domestic donkey
- Coat: very long, often matted; straw and burrs get caught in it
- Special feature: The hair on the legs remains short and dark, as do the areas around the eyes and muzzle — otherwise the animal would hardly be able to see
- Ears: strikingly long, longer than an outstretched hand in fully grown animals
The Poitou was used for mule breeding for centuries. When mules were replaced by machines, the breeding almost completely collapsed. Today, the breed is considered highly endangered and is kept through targeted conservation programs.
Milk donkey — which breeds are kept for this purpose
There is no "milk breed" in the sense of high-performance breeding like with cattle. However, individual breeds have become established in southern Europe for milk production — such as the Martina-Franca donkey and the Amiata donkey in Italy or the Zamorano-Leonés in Spain.
The deciding factor is not the breed, but biology: A donkey only gives milk if she has a foal. And she only gives a fraction of what a cow produces per day — the foal always gets it first. We have described more about this here: Why donkey milk is so rare.
That is exactly why we work with several small farms in Europe instead of one large operation. What results from this, such as our fresh donkey milk, can be found in our shop.
How to recognize a breed in everyday life
Without paperwork, a reliable classification is difficult — many animals in Germany are mixed breeds. These features help with a rough classification:
- Size first: under 1.05 m indicates a miniature donkey, over 1.40 m a large breed
- Coat length: strikingly long, shaggy hair is only found in a few breeds
- Ear length in relation to the head
- Head shape and stature: delicate and fine or heavy and horse-like
By the way, the cross on the back is not suitable for breed identification — it occurs in practically all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which donkey breed is the largest?
The Poitou and the Spanish Zamorano-Leonés, with heights at the withers of about 1.40 to 1.60 m, are among the largest. Individual animals can exceed this.
Which donkey breed is the smallest?
Miniature donkeys are the smallest, with a height at the withers under about 1.05 m, originally coming from Sardinia and Sicily.
Which donkey breed is the rarest?
The Poitou is one of the rarest donkey breeds worldwide. After the decline of mule breeding, the populations collapsed sharply; today, the breed is secured through conservation breeding programs.
Can donkey breeds be crossed?
Yes, donkeys of different breeds can produce offspring together. A large part of the donkeys kept in Germany are accordingly mixed breeds without a clear breed classification.
Which donkey breed is suitable for beginners?
It is less about the breed than the keeping conditions. Donkeys are herd animals and must never be kept alone. They need enough exercise, dry ground, and suitable feed — this applies to miniature donkeys just as much as to large breeds.
On @dondonkeysofficial, we regularly show which farms we visit and which donkeys are kept there — including breeds that are rarely seen in Germany.
