Researchers in Britain have confirmed that donkeys don’t cope well with wet, cold weather, and they need extra protection in winter.

This is the first study of the hair coat properties of donkeys in any environment and indicates that donkeys are less well adapted to the UK winter than horses and mules.

The findings have been incorporated into an updated Defra Code of Practice. Defra – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities…..

They found that donkeys, and to a lesser extent mules, are less able than horses to adapt to colder, wetter climates and therefore require additional protection in the winter to meet their welfare needs.

Read the full article here.