Donkey — Feed Requirements Guide
Donkeys are the most feed-efficient equines, evolved to thrive in arid environments on sparse, low-quality vegetation. A standard donkey at 500 lbs requires only 7.5 lbs of dry matter daily, significantly less than a horse of similar size. Donkeys have a highly efficient digestive system that extracts more energy from fibrous feeds than horses, with lower maintenance energy requirements per unit of body weight. This metabolic efficiency, while advantageous in their native habitat, makes donkeys extremely prone to obesity, hyperlipemia, and laminitis when given access to the rich diets appropriate for horses. The ideal donkey diet consists primarily of barley or wheat straw supplemented with small amounts of grass hay, a vitamin and mineral supplement, and limited grazing on sparse pasture. Alfalfa, sweet feeds, and grain-based concentrates should be avoided except for pregnant, lactating, or working donkeys in carefully controlled amounts.
Donkey Nutritional Requirements by Life Stage
The table below shows how dry matter intake, protein requirements, and feed costs change across the 4 life stages of donkey production. Life stage adjustments account for the dramatically different energy and protein demands of lactation, growth, gestation, and maintenance. Click any life stage for a dedicated page with detailed feeding recommendations and management tips.
| Life Stage | DMI Adj. | Daily DMI | Protein % | Daily Protein | Monthly Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | 1x | 7.5 lbs | 8% | 0.6 lbs | $19.18 |
| Pregnant Jenny | 1.15x | 8.6 lbs | 10.4% | 0.9 lbs | $22.05 |
| Lactating Jenny | 1.3x | 9.8 lbs | 11.2% | 1.1 lbs | $24.93 |
| Growing Foal | 1.2x | 9.0 lbs | 12% | 1.1 lbs | $23.01 |
*Monthly cost estimated using grass hay at $150/ton. Actual costs vary by feed type and region.
Recommended Feeds for Donkey
The following feeds meet both the minimum crude protein and TDN requirements for donkey at maintenance level (8% protein, 50% TDN) when fed as the sole feed source. In practice, most feeding programs combine multiple feed ingredients to optimize cost and nutritional balance.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | As-Fed/Day | Cost/Ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grass Hay | 8% | 52% | 8.5 lbs | $150 |
| Alfalfa Hay | 18% | 58% | 8.3 lbs | $250 |
| Timothy Hay | 9% | 55% | 8.5 lbs | $200 |
| Bermuda Grass Hay | 10% | 52% | 8.5 lbs | $160 |
| Corn Silage | 8% | 70% | 21.4 lbs | $50 |
| Haylage (Baleage) | 14% | 60% | 16.7 lbs | $80 |
| Whole Corn | 9% | 88% | 8.5 lbs | $220 |
| Cracked Corn | 9% | 88% | 8.5 lbs | $240 |
| Oats | 12% | 70% | 8.4 lbs | $210 |
| Barley | 13% | 84% | 8.5 lbs | $230 |
| Soybean Meal | 44% | 84% | 8.3 lbs | $450 |
| Cottonseed Meal | 41% | 75% | 8.2 lbs | $380 |
| Distillers Grains (Dried) | 27% | 86% | 8.3 lbs | $200 |
| Beet Pulp | 9% | 74% | 8.2 lbs | $280 |
| Wheat Bran | 16% | 67% | 8.4 lbs | $180 |
| Rice Bran | 13% | 65% | 8.2 lbs | $200 |
| Pasture Grass (Fresh) | 12% | 62% | 30.0 lbs | $0 |
| Corn Gluten Feed | 21% | 80% | 8.5 lbs | $200 |
| Canola Meal | 36% | 74% | 8.3 lbs | $350 |
| Layer Pellets | 16% | 70% | 8.3 lbs | $400 |
| Broiler Starter | 22% | 78% | 8.3 lbs | $450 |
| Horse Sweet Feed | 12% | 72% | 8.5 lbs | $350 |
| Brewers Grains (Wet) | 26% | 66% | 31.3 lbs | $60 |
| Alfalfa Hay Cubes | 17% | 56% | 8.3 lbs | $300 |
Feeds Requiring Supplementation
These feeds meet either the protein or TDN requirement but not both, and would need to be combined with other feeds in a balanced ration. The table indicates which nutritional requirement is met and which needs supplementation.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | Protein OK? | TDN OK? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molasses | 5% | 72% | No | Yes |
| Fat Supplement (Bypass Fat) | 0% | 180% | No | Yes |
| Urea (Feed Grade) | 281% | 0% | Yes | No |
Feeding Donkey at Different Body Weights
Body weight directly determines dry matter intake. The table below shows how daily feed requirements change across a range of body weights for donkey at maintenance level. Use the calculator for custom weights, life stages, and herd sizes.
| Body Weight | Daily DMI | Daily Protein | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 lbs | 4.5 lbs | 0.4 lbs | 135 lbs | 0.82 tons |
| 400 lbs | 6.0 lbs | 0.5 lbs | 180 lbs | 1.10 tons |
| 500 lbs | 7.5 lbs | 0.6 lbs | 225 lbs | 1.37 tons |
| 600 lbs | 9.0 lbs | 0.7 lbs | 270 lbs | 1.64 tons |
| 750 lbs | 11.3 lbs | 0.9 lbs | 338 lbs | 2.05 tons |
Herd Size Feed Budgets for Donkey
Planning feed purchases and storage requires estimating total feed needs for your herd over time. The table below shows monthly and annual feed requirements and costs for various herd sizes of donkey at maintenance level using grass hay at $150/ton.
| Head Count | Daily DMI Total | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 37.5 lbs | 0.56 tons | 6.84 tons | $1,166.55 |
| 10 | 75.0 lbs | 1.13 tons | 13.69 tons | $2,333.10 |
| 25 | 187.5 lbs | 2.81 tons | 34.22 tons | $5,832.74 |
| 50 | 375.0 lbs | 5.63 tons | 68.44 tons | $11,665.48 |
| 100 | 750.0 lbs | 11.25 tons | 136.88 tons | $23,330.97 |
| 200 | 1,500.0 lbs | 22.50 tons | 273.75 tons | $46,661.93 |
Other Animals
Browse feed requirement guides for other livestock species.