Baudet du Poitou

This is a large donkey from France.

It has a very long coat. The hair grows in thick locks. These locks can reach the ground.

These donkeys have very large ears. Their ears can even hang sideways. They are known to be very kind. People once used them to make mules. Now, groups work hard to help them. They want to keep this breed safe.

It is good to protect them.

The Baudet du Poitou is a large breed of donkey. It comes from the Poitou region in France.

These donkeys are known for their very long hair. This hair grows in thick, shaggy locks.

Some donkeys have hair so long it touches the ground. This type of coat is called a bourailloux coat.

In the past, people used these donkeys to make mules. A mule is a mix of a donkey and a horse. The Baudet was a special "donkey sire." This means it was a male used to breed mules. These mules were very strong and good for farm work.

As machines took over farm work, the number of donkeys fell. By 1977, only 44 of these donkeys were left in the world. Many groups in France began to help the breed. They used new ways to keep the donkeys healthy. By 2005, there were about 450 purebred donkeys. Today, you can find them in many places like the United States and Germany. They are known for being friendly and kind.

The Baudet du Poitou is a very large breed of donkey. It comes from the Poitou region in western France. These donkeys are famous for their unique and shaggy appearance. They have very long hair that grows in thick locks.

Some donkeys have hair so long it touches the ground. This special look is called a bourailloux coat. These animals are also known for having very large ears. Their ears can be so heavy they hang out to the sides.

For a long time, these donkeys had a very specific job. They were used to breed strong mules. A mule is the offspring of a donkey and a horse. The name Baudet means "donkey sire." This refers to the male donkeys used to breed the animals.

Breeders used the large Poitou donkeys with a special horse breed called the Mulassière. This helped create mules that were excellent for farm work. In the mid-1800s, these mules were the best in France. Some years, breeders sold up to 18,000 of these mules annually.

History shows us how these donkeys became so special. We do not know exactly when they first appeared. Some people think the Roman Empire brought them to France. By the year 1717, they were already well-known. An advisor to King Louis XV described them in detail. He said they were as tall as large mules. He also noted their hair was half a foot long.

During the Middle Ages, owning one was a sign of high status for French nobles.

However, the breed faced a very hard time in the 1900s. As machines began to do farm work, fewer mules were needed. The number of Poitou donkeys dropped very quickly. By 1977, only 44 of these donkeys remained in the world. This was a very dangerous time for the breed.

To save them, groups in France started conservation efforts in 1980. By 2005, the number of registered animals grew to about 450. Today, about 70% of them live in France.

Today, you can find these friendly donkeys in many different countries. They live in places like Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Some even live in the United States.

In America, Debbie Hamilton runs a large breeding farm in Vermont. She uses new tools like frozen semen to help the breed. This helps bring French genetics to American herds. Scientists even used special techniques to help a Poitou embryo grow in Australia. This shows how much the world cares about saving this unique breed.

The Baudet du Poitou is a massive breed of donkey from western France. It takes its name from the Poitou province. This breed is famous for its size and its unique, shaggy appearance.

Many of these donkeys possess a distinctive coat. This coat grows in long, thick locks. Traditionally, breeders left this hair ungroomed. When the hair grows so long that it touches the ground, the donkey is called a "bourailloux."

These animals are much larger than most other donkey breeds. They were specifically developed to be large and strong.

The primary purpose of the Baudet du Poitou was to produce superior mules. A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. The term "Baudet" actually means "donkey sire." To create these mules, breeders paired the large Poitou jacks with a specific horse breed called the Mulassière.

This combination resulted in mules that were highly valued for agricultural work. In the mid-1800s, Poitevin mules were considered the finest in France. During this peak, breeders sold between 15,000 and 18,000 mules every year. Some estimates suggest that as many as 50,000 mules were bred annually in the Poitou region.

Physical traits set the Baudet du Poitou apart from other equines. They have very large features, including long heads and thick necks. Their ears are exceptionally large. In some cases, the weight of the ears causes them to hang horizontally.

They also have large limb joints and strong legs. The coat color is typically dark bay, which ranges from dark brown to black. Some individuals show "rubican" markings, where a reddish border surrounds the silver-grey areas near the eyes and mouth. The temperament of the breed is often described as docile, friendly, and affectionate.

The history of the breed is long and somewhat mysterious. While the exact origins are unknown, it is possible the Roman Empire introduced donkeys to the region. By the Middle Ages, owning a Poitou donkey was a status symbol for French nobility. By 1717, the breed's unique traits were well-documented. An advisor to King Louis XV described them as being as tall as large mules. He noted they were covered in hair about half a foot long.

However, the twentieth century brought great changes. As machines replaced animals in farming and transport, the demand for mules dropped. This mechanization caused the donkey population to crash.

By 1977, the breed reached a critical low point. A census revealed that only 44 Poitou donkeys remained in the entire world. This decline was worsened by poor breeding practices used by some historical breeders. Some practices included keeping jacks in unhygienic stalls or starving mares to try and produce more valuable colts. These methods led to high mortality rates for foals. To save the breed, the Haras Nationaux and other groups began conservation efforts around 1980. These efforts helped the population grow to approximately 450 registered animals by 2005.

Modern conservation uses advanced science to protect the breed. In the 1990s, breeders began using DNA testing and microchips to track purebred animals. This helped prevent people from selling crossbred donkeys as purebreds. In 2001, scientists in Australia even used artificial insemination to implant a Poitou embryo into a Standardbred mare. This was a difficult task because different species in the genus Equus often reject such embryos. Today, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy lists the Poitou as "critical." This means there are fewer than 2,000 animals in the world.

The breed is now found in several countries, though about 70% live in France. In the United States, the breed has a smaller but dedicated presence. Some Poitou bloodline was used to help create the American Mammoth Jack breed. Today, breeders like Debbie Hamilton use frozen semen to improve American herds. This allows genetic material from France to reach North America. The North American Baudet de Poitou Society now works to coordinate registrations and inspections. These international efforts ensure that this unique, shaggy breed does not disappear forever.