Searching for the Bulgarian donkey: Description, body measurements, population structure and distribution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61308/WWRO8794Keywords:
Bulgarian donkey, Balkan donkey, body measurements, population structure, distributionAbstract
It is believed that the dominant donkey breed on the Balkan peninsula is the Balkan donkey – the term encompasses the population from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and other Balkan countries. However, each of these countries claim to have their own unique “Balkan donkey”, irrespective of the heterogeneity of the animals. The present study deals with the characteristics of a Bulgarian strain, going in depth about its morphological profile and present day numbers. The profound political changes in the area around the end of the 20th century influenced significantly the distribution of livestock, and the future of indigenous breeds. Therefore, the need of a preservation program and the incorporation of better breeding strategies is also discussed.
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