Miranda donkey

Miranda donkey
dark-coloured donkeys
Other names
  • Burro de Miranda
  • Burro do Planalto Mirandes
  • Raça asinina de Miranda
  • Mirandes
  • Transmontano[1]
Country of origin Portugal
Distribution Terra de Miranda
Donkey
Equus asinus

The Miranda donkey, Portuguese: Burro de Miranda,[2] is an autochthonous donkey breed from the Terra de Miranda region of northeast Portugal.

Appearance

The Miranda donkey is born with coat that appears black,[3] but will shed out to become brown.[1] It is tall, 1.2–1.35 metres (3 ft 11 in–4 ft 5 in) at the withers, has long hairy ears, large hooves, pangare markings around its eyes, muzzle and underline, broad forehead, small eyes with projecting orbital arcades, large and strong legs, heavy neck, unobtrusive withers, short and muscular back, and a powerful chest. Miranda donkeys are distinguished from common donkeys by longer hair, and they are considered more social and docile.[4] The development of the breed's charactisics reflects the region where they developed: isolated environmental conditions, agricultural characteristics of the soil, weather that tends to extremes[5] and socioeconomic standards in the region.[6] In 2001 the Miranda donkey was recognized as a distinct breed by the Portuguese Department of Agriculture,[7] and, it was the first donkey breed in Portugal to join the group of asinine indiginious breeds protected by the European Union.[8] It is the only officially recognized donkey breed on Portugal.[9]

Relationships with humans

Young Miranda donkey before fully shedding coat

For centuries the Miranda donkeys were a mainstay of agriculture in the Terra de Miranda region of Portugal,[10] helping farmers plow[11] and carrying goods.[12] Descended from the African wild ass,[13] donkeys originated in deserts with little fodder and difficult ground. Those attributes made the Miranda donkey ideally suited for Portugal's highlands.[14] The donkey was at the center of Mirandesa society; major trade fairs, called feiras de burros, were centered around it.[15] Made largely superfluous by mechanization and the end of exploitation of small parcels,[16] they are no longer profitable as work animals, and now are little more than companion animals for the elderly.[17] It is estimated that only 300 Miranda donkeys are now used as farm animals.[18] The majority are now cared for by older farmers, who are then eligible for E.U. subsidies. But, it is said that the farmers "keep the donkeys more for love than for subsidies."[19] For preservation it is problematic that almost only old people keep this breed. Ninety percent of Miranda owners are over 75 years of age;[20][21] extinction of owners is felt to be a main risk for extinction for the animals.[22] The Miranda Plateau [23] is said to represents the decay of the country’s countryside: agriculture is a very difficult and unprofitable business; the young go to the cities and leaving only some of the old behind.[16] The villages have been depopulated.[24]

The majority of the donkeys are well-cared for, many owners viewing the animals as part of their family.[25] Even with subsidies, they are not profitable,[26] though the payments persuade more farmers to keep the burros despite their dwindling worth.[27] At a cost of $650/year and only a $230 E.U subsidy, it makes little economic sense to keep a donkey.[28] When the animal can no longer work, or be supported by the farmer, they generally end up being sold for slaughter;[29] few are given free to shelters.[30] Before roads were paved and dams were built in the 1960s, owners pushed unwanted animals off the cliff over the River Douro,[31][32] "their bones to be picked clean by vultures."[33] Since 2003, they have been listed as an endangered breed.[34] The number of animals has stabilized at around 800, a quarter of the number in the 1970s,[35] as conservationists have taken an active role in preserving the breed.[36] Despite its central role in traditional Portuguese rural life, they were previously looked at as little more than agricultural tools, neglected over the centuries and felt to be poor relatives among the equidae.[37] It reputation as the "stupid animal of the poor" has not helped.[38] With the efforts of the conservationists, this view is changing, and now, after decades of neglect, they are felt to symbolically represent a fading rural cultural tradition.[39]

In the era of austerity the donkeys are front and center in the debate about how far the E.U. should go to subsidize non-profitable agricultural regions. The fear is that in the near future support will be withdrawn from the donkeys. The donkey has been used as a metaphor for Portugal, shunted aside by industrial society and existing only on E.U. subsidies.[40] There is criticism of the subsidies, as they are felt to dampen the enthusiasm for innovation and modernization. A socialist mayor in the region opined that “the honest answer is that subsidies bring nothing.”[41]

In the past the Miranda donkey was known as the "poor's motor," a docile and safe companion of the rural farmers, its "arms and legs," its entertainment and the one keeping them active and useful.[42] But, the move to modernity made the Miranda donkey redundant; in adapting to the changed rural socioeconomic landscape, new uses have had to be found for the Miranda donkey to save it from biological extinction. This is the aim of the preservationists, to keep alive an indigenous breed in order to save a genetic, ecological and cultural heritage unique to Portugal.[43]

In 2015 researchers at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro concluded the Miranda donkey was in danger of extinction over the next 50 years. The major factor was the abandonment of breeding the animal; out of an aging breeding population of 600 animals only 1/2 of the females had foals, and some had only one.[44] Other factors include a high mortality rate among young foals,[45] and a growing tendency of farmers to resort to hybridization and crossings with different breeds.[46]

'Modern uses of the donkey

The use of the donkey as an eco-tourism resource is emerging in Portugal. Tourist donkey trekking tours[47] are popular, particularly beneficial for those who could not otherwise negotiate difficult terrain.[48] The re-emergence of fairs,[49] festivals, donkey racing[50] and shows invigorates old local traditions and customs, with the donkey as the tool for education and awareness. This knowledge enhances a tourism targeted to environmental awareness and cultural respect.[51][52] Arguably less positive for the well-being of the donkey and threatening their "symbolic and cultural worth" is the use of the animal for industrial donkey milk production.[53] In a strongly worded statement, this has been opposed by conservationists.[54] The milk is used for expensive soaps,[55] skin creams,[56] and cheeses.[57] As the Miranda's milk is closest to human milk in the animal world,[58] its nutritional value has suggested it may be a substitute for children with intolerance for cow's milk.[59] Asinoterapia, a branch of animal therapy, uses the donkey as a co-therapist, taking advantage of its natural docility, patience, attentiveness and intelligence. It was developed in the 1970s in several countries and has been recently introduced into Portugal, where its use is increasing.[60] This therapy is particularly effective for children with disabilities, providing them with sensory enrichment and helping with their biological and social development; it is also effective for emotional disorders such as anxiety.[61] Asinomediacao is a related therapeutic technique, but, doesn't employ a psychologist or therapist.[62] Psicomotricidade is another form of therapy that employs the donkey as a therapeutic agent; it is a combination of physical and cognitive therapies.[63] A successful support program for the mirandes ass has attracted over 1000 people over the last decade for at least a one-year sponsorship of a burro.[64]

References

  1. 1 2 "Donkey Breeds in Europe" (PDF). Save-foundation.net. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  2. ↑ Breed data sheet: Burro de Miranda/Portugal. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2014.
  3. ↑ Donkey rides to protect the species
  4. ↑ Miranda donkeys face extiction
  5. ↑ "The World Within Us" (PDF). Aidglobal.org. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  6. ↑ "Naturasin Protegendo as nossas raizes". Naturasin.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  7. ↑ Recognized as a breed
  8. ↑ protection as a breed
  9. ↑ fmv.ulisboa
  10. ↑ Paintset.Pt. "~Herdade Serra Do Loureiro~". Serraloureiro.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  11. ↑ ""The Donkey is still a common sight both as a needed help in the farm and everyday work, and as a companion for the elder people" ©Joao Pedro Marnoto". Lightstalkers. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  12. ↑ Photo carrying goods Retrieved 2013-12-24
  13. ↑ Donkey facts Retrieved November 3, 2016
  14. ↑ Miranda donkeys Retrieved 2013-12-24
  15. ↑ "Miranda do Douro: Associação quer preservar antigas feiras de burros". Destak.pt. 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  16. 1 2 "Donkey Conference @ SOAS". Soas.ac.uk. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  17. ↑ Forages and Grazing in Horse Nutrition - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  18. ↑ 300 donkeys as farm animals
  19. ↑ E.U. subsidies Retrieved 2013-12-26
  20. ↑ "Photo". Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  21. ↑ Photo of elderly with donkey Retrieved 12/23/2013
  22. ↑ "ECO Development Projects : Donkey Milk" (PDF). Rederural.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  23. ↑ "Photograph". Ipb.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  24. ↑ "XI edição da Feira do Naso - Mostra de Asininos de Miranda - AEPGA". Aepga.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  25. ↑ "UK charity helps Portuguese volunteers create 'retirement shelter' for tired donkeys". The Portugal News. 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  26. ↑ "Hard Times for a Small (and Fuzzy) Group of Europeans". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  27. ↑ Donkeys at risk Algarve Daily News, Retrieved 2013-12-25
  28. ↑ Donkey subsidies Economic Times, Retrieved 2013-12-24
  29. ↑ Before and after Retrieved 2013-12-24
  30. ↑ "About Us". Donkey Shelter. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  31. ↑ "Photograph : Barragem de Miranda do Douro". Upload.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  32. ↑ Cliff photo AEGPA portal, Retrieved 2013-12-24
  33. ↑ "In Portugal, Mirandese Spoken Here — and Only Here". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  34. ↑ Vanishing donkeys
  35. ↑ New York Times Nov 29, 2013, 12.08PM IST. "Austerity in Europe: Even donkeys face hard times - Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  36. ↑ "AEPGA". Aepga.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  37. ↑ "Miranda Donkeys". English.herdade-da-mata.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  38. ↑ Reputation of the donkey India Times, Retrieved 2013-12-24
  39. ↑ ""Donkey Rides in the highlands of Miranda do Douro as it happens during " Por Tierras del Rei" festival, around the spring time, allows the joyfull encounter with the rural world and represents one of the most important of the cultural activities developed by AEPGA, na association intended mostly for the protection and enhancement of the Miranda Donkey from the Northeast region of Portugal." ©Joao Pedro Marnoto". Lightstalkers. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  40. ↑ Miranda donkey subsidies retrieved 2013-12-26
  41. ↑ Criticism of the subsidies Retrieved 2013-12-26
  42. ↑ Faith in donkeys Retrieved 2013-12-25
  43. ↑ "Asinino Cattle "Study and Protection Association - Activities - Theme Parks - Portugal - Lifecooler". En.lifecooler.com. 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  44. ↑ "Donkey facoing extinction".
  45. ↑ "Future of native breed in doubt".
  46. ↑ "Interbreeding leading to loss of pure Miranda".
  47. ↑ Donkey trekking tours
  48. ↑ Sofia Elsa. "donkey hiking & trekking algarve". Donkey-trekking-algarve.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  49. ↑ "Programa Feira de Burros do Azinhoso - AEPGA". Aepga.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  50. ↑ "Donkey racing". Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  51. ↑ "Faith in Donkeys". Faith in Donkeys. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  52. ↑ "Ecobiketour - AEPGA". Aepga.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  53. ↑ "NATURASIN - a Traditional Milk Product from Donkeys - RDP PROJECTS - ENRD - European Commission". Enrd.ec.europa.eu. 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  54. ↑ ""Symbolic and cultural" worth of Miranda Donkey under threat by mass-milk production". The Portugal News. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  55. ↑ Donkey soap Donkeys and Co. Retrieved 2013-12-24
  56. ↑ Donkey Milk Beauty retrieved 2013-12-24
  57. ↑ Incredible Things Retrieved 2013-12-24
  58. ↑ Donkey milk Retrieved September 13, 2014
  59. ↑ "Donkey conference" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-12-26.
  60. ↑ "Curso Intensivo em Terapia e Actividades Assistidas por Asininos - AEPGA". Aepga.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  61. ↑ "Asinoterapia". Aepga.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  62. ↑ Asinomediacao Aepga.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-24
  63. ↑ Psicomotricidade Aegpa.pt. Retrieved 2013-12-24
  64. ↑ Donkey sponsorship Retrieved 2013-12-26
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