Norman donkey

The Norman donkey, French: Âne Normand, is a breed of domestic donkey from Normandy, in north-west France. It is found mainly in the present-day Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy regions, and is also present in Brittany and the Pays de Loire. It is the smallest of the seven recognised French donkey breeds.[4] It was formerly used as a pack animal in agricultural work, mainly for carrying milk churns; it is now used in leisure sports and tourism. The breed was recognised by the Ministère de l'Agriculture, the French ministry of agriculture, in 1997. The stud book is kept by the Association de l'Âne Normand, an association of breeders.[5]

Norman donkey
a dark-coloured donkey with pale muzzle and belly
Conservation status
  • FAO (2007): no data[1]
  • SAVE (2008): endangered[2]
Other namesÂne normand
Country of originFrance
Distributionnorth-west France
StandardMinistère de l'Agriculture
Traits
Height
  • Male:
    1.20–1.35 m[3]
  • Female:
    1.20–1.35 m[3]
Coatbay, dark bay or black pangaré

History
Norman donkey at the salon de l'agriculture.

The breed originated in the three départements of what is now Lower Normandy, the Calvados, the Manche and the Orne; in 1970 there were 8500 donkeys of all breeds in that area. The Norman donkey was recognised by the Ministère de l'Agriculture on 20 August 1997.[6] In 1998 a total of 225 Norman donkeys had been identified;[7] the total number is now 1450.[5]

Characteristics
Head

The Norman donkey measures 1.10–1.25 metres (43–49 in).[4] The coat may be bay in all its shades, chocolate brown or black pangaré, with a darker dorsal stripe and shoulder-stripe; the legs often show zebra-striping. The surround of the eyes and lower part of the muzzle are grey-white, as is the belly.[6]

Use

Like the Cotentin donkey, the Norman donkey was used in the 19th century as a pack animal to transport market garden produce, or take hay to livestock at pasture, or to carry milk-churns in a time when cows were milked by hand in the field; often the milkmaid or triolette sat on top of the churns. It was also used in harness, sometimes to pull a large wheeled churn, a godaine.[5]

Today it may be used as a pack animal for hiking or trekking.[6]

References
  1. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed July 2014.
  2. Waltraud Kugler, Hans-Peter Grunenfelder, Elli Broxham (2008). Donkey Breeds in Europe: Inventory, Description, Need for Action, Conservation; Report 2007/2008. St. Gallen, Switzerland: Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe. p. 26–27. Archived 2 September 2009.
  3. Pierre Schwartz (21 November 2013). Annexe I: Standard de l'ane Normand (in French). Annex to: Arrêté du 21 novembre 2013 modifiant l'arrêté du 14 novembre 2002 modifié portant approbation du règlement du stud-book de l'âne normand, Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'agroalimentaire et de la forêt. In: Journal officiel "Lois et Décrets" 0280, 3 December 2013: 19636. Accessed July 2014.
  4. Lætitia Bataille (2008). Âne normand (in French). In: Races équines de France. France Agricole Éditions. ISBN 9782855571546. 255–258.
  5. L'âne normand (in French). Association de l'âne normand. Accessed July 2014.
  6. Fiche de l'âne normand (in French). Haras nationaux Accessed July 2014.
  7. Serge Farissier (2007). L'âne du Cotentin (in French). In: L'âne. Editions Artemis. ISBN 9782844166425. p. 73.
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