Ragusano donkey
A Sicilian donkey breed used for mule production and milk.
The Ragusano donkey is a Sicilian breed, native to the Mediterranean island and tied to four towns in the southern Province of Ragusa: Modica, Ragusa, Santa Croce Camerina, and Scicli. Italy’s agriculture ministry recognizes it as one of eight autochthonous donkey breeds with a limited range. By 2007, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization had classified its conservation status as endangered.
Quick Facts
- Country
- Italy
- Distribution
- Province of Ragusa
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Its coat colour is dark bay, with pale muzzle and eye-surrounds, often also pale on the belly and insides of the legs.
- The milk has been found to have anti-viral properties that might make it a candidate for possible use in the prevention of viral gastro-intestinal infections in humans.
History
The Ragusano donkey first appears in records from the mid-1800s. It was mainly developed at Catania’s state horse-breeding centre, which still holds the herd-book. This breed comes mostly from two other Sicilian donkeys, the Grigio Siciliano and the Pantesco, with additional influence from the larger Asino di Martina Franca and the Catalan. Official breed recognition came in 1953. By 2023, the population stood at 723 herds with 450 registered breeding jacks, and in 2025 DAD-IS classified it as “vulnerable.”
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