Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Viability analyses of an endangered donkey breed: the case of the Asinina de Miranda (Equus asinus)

M. Quaresma A B C E , A. M. F. Martins B , J. B. Rodrigues D , J. Colaço B and R. Payan-Carreira B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Hospital Veterinário da UTAD, Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.

B Centro de Estudos em Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal C.

C Associação Para o Estudo e Proteção do Gado Asinino (AEPGA), Largo da Igreja, 5225-011 Atenor, Portugal.

D Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal.

E Corresponding author. Email: miguelq@utad.pt

Animal Production Science 55(9) 1184-1191 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN13307
Submitted: 20 July 2013  Accepted: 21 July 2014   Published: 30 September 2014

Abstract

The donkey breed Asinina de Miranda, with fewer than 1000 breeding females, is in danger of extinction. The objectives of this study were to predict the progression of the breed under present management and identify determinants for survival, by means of a population viability analysis program, in order to suggest suitable management strategies. The simulation showed a high risk of extinction. The most critical factor for breed survival was the percentage of females breeding per year, but the actual percentage needed depended on the carrying capacity of the breed. Reducing female mortality and age at production of first offspring, assuring registration in the Studbook, and tracking the foals will significantly foster this donkey breed’s recovery and maintenance. The breed comprised a potentially reproductive population of 589 individuals; however, just 54.1% of the adult females registered in the Studbook ever foaled, and of these 62.7% foaled just once. The overall neonatal mortality for the first month of life was 8.92% and was lower in females (6.51%) than in males (12.0%) (P = 0.028). Neonatal mortality was unevenly distributed throughout the year, with lower mortality rates recorded in February–May and October–November, and higher mortality rates in June–September and again in December–January. The neonatal foal mortality rate was lower with females aged 5–15 years (8.06%) than those younger than 4 years (10.3%) or older than 16 years (14.1%) at foaling.

Additional keywords: conservation, management decisions, reproduction, mortality rate, population dynamics, PVA.


References

Al-Atiyat RM (2009) Extinction probabilities of Jordan indigenous cattle using population viability analysis. Livestock Science 123, 121–128.
Extinction probabilities of Jordan indigenous cattle using population viability analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Aranguren-Méndez J, Jordana J, Gómez M (2001) Genetic diversity in Spanish donkey breeds using microsatellite DNA markers. Genetic Selection Evolution 33, 33–42.

Brook BW, O’Grady JJ, Chapman AP, Burgman MA, Akçakaya HR, Frankham R (2000) Predictive accuracy of population viability analysis in conservation biology. Nature 404, 385–387.
Predictive accuracy of population viability analysis in conservation biology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXitlyls7g%3D&md5=7b010dccbee760aac74381fc78cd1707CAS | 10746724PubMed |

Burgman M, Possingham HP (2000) Population viability analysis for conservation: the good, the bad and the undescribed. In ‘Genetics, demography and viability of fragmented populations’. (Eds AG Young, GM Clarke) pp. 97–112. (Cambridge University Press: London)

Colli L, Perrotta G, Negrini R, Bomba L, Bigi D, Zambonelli P, Verini Supplizi A, Liotta L, Ajmone-Marsan P (2012) Detecting population structure and recent demographic history in endangered livestock breeds: the case of the Italian autochthonous donkeys. Animal Genetics 4, 69–78.

FAO (2007) ‘The state of the world’s animal genetic resources for food and agriculture.’ (Eds B Rischkowsky, D Pilling) (Commission on Genetic resources for Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome)

Gandini GC, Villa E (2003) Analysis of the cultural value of local livestock breeds: a methodology. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 120, 1–11.
Analysis of the cultural value of local livestock breeds: a methodology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hoffmann I (2010) Livestock biodiversity. Revue Scientifique et Technique (International Office of Epizootics) 29, 73–86.

Instituto Nacional de Estatística (2011) ‘Recenseamento agrícola - análise dos principais resultados. Efetivos pecuários: 2009.’ (Instituto Nacional de Estatística: Lisboa)

Jordana J, Folch P (1998) La raza asnal catalana: programa de conservación y mejora de una población en peligro de extinción. Archivos de Zootecnia 47, 403–409.

Jorgensen SE (1988) ‘Fundamentals of ecological modelling’ (Elsevier Science Publishers BV: Amsterdam)

Lacy RC (1993) Vortex: a computer simulation model for population viability analysis. Wildlife Research 20, 45–65.
Vortex: a computer simulation model for population viability analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lacy RC, Borbat M, Pollack JP (2009) ‘Vortex: A stochastic simulation of the extinction process. Version 9.99c.’ (Chicago Zoological Society: Brookfield, IL)

Quaresma M, Martins AMF, Rodrigues JB, Colaço J, Payan-Carreira R (2013) Pedigree and herd characterization of a donkey breed vulnerable to extinction. Animal 8, 354–359.
Pedigree and herd characterization of a donkey breed vulnerable to extinction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24330770PubMed |

Quaresma M, Payan-Carreira R, Pires MA, Edwards JF (2011) Bilateral ovulation fossa inclusion cysts in Miranda jennets. Journal of Comparative Pathology 145, 367–372.
Bilateral ovulation fossa inclusion cysts in Miranda jennets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3MbivFygsQ%3D%3D&md5=c697a177bda70151da02f1542073f112CAS | 21501847PubMed |

Reist-Marti SB, Abdulai A, Simianer H (2006) Optimum allocation of conservation funds and choice of conservation programs for a set of African cattle breeds. Genetics, Selection, Evolution. 38, 99–126.
Optimum allocation of conservation funds and choice of conservation programs for a set of African cattle breeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16451794PubMed |

Simianer H (2005) Decision making in livestock conservation. Ecological Economics 53, 559–572.
Decision making in livestock conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Slotta-Bachmayr L, Boegel R, Kaczensky P, Stauffer C, Walzer C (2004) Use of population viability analysis to identify management priorities and success in reintroducing Przewalski’s horses to southwestern Mongolia. The Journal of Wildlife Management 68, 790–798.
Use of population viability analysis to identify management priorities and success in reintroducing Przewalski’s horses to southwestern Mongolia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Thirstrup JP, Bach LA, Loeschcke V, Pertoldi C (2009) Population viability analysis on domestic horse breeds (Equus caballus). Journal of Animal Science 87, 3525–3535.
Population viability analysis on domestic horse breeds (Equus caballus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtlentLvI&md5=3c1758306b299c3d83939b2b46abd240CAS | 19684264PubMed |

Valério N (2001) ‘Estatísticas históricas de Portugal (1st vol).’ (Instituto Nacional de Estatística: Lisboa)