Donkeys on a Farm
Donkeys are used to protect herds of sheep or goats on farms. Unlike dogs, which are the other animal of choice for this job, donkeys can eat and sleep with the sheep, so they form a stronger bond with the herd. Donkeys are aggressive and strong enough to scare off wolves, foxes, and coyotes. Donkeys can also bond with young or skittish horses and help with processes of training young horses by providing steady, calm companion to the young horse. Horses that are recovering from surgery or other injuries are sometimes paired with a donkey to help them feel less skittish and nervous because donkeys are generally calm animals. Donkeys are also quite strong and can be used to pull loads or carry packs . They are often mated with horses to produce mules, which are stronger and often live longer than donkeys. Mules are also used to pull or carry heavy loads and can also be ridden like horses over long distances.
