Question

My 20-year-old American mammoth donkey mare weighs about 800 lb (360 kg). She’s in fine weight now, a body condition score of 5. Though she is basically idle, Peekaboo does some pack-rides occasionally. She is on average-to-weedy pasture at all times with additional high-quality alfalfa-orchardgrass hay. I believe a hoof supplement might help her, as she has weak walls, according to my farrier. Is Peekaboo getting all of the nutrition she needs?

Answer

Peekaboo sounds like she’s in great body condition. Closely monitoring her weight will help reduce the risk of obesity that can lead to a number of problems, including insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and founder. Keeping her in exercise is also important in weight management.

A diet high in fiber with an added source of vitamins and minerals is ideal for most donkeys. Her current diet lacks some nutrients that are not found in typical forage sources. Adding a simple micronutrient supplement is recommended because it contributes virtually no extra calories while delivering valuable vitamins and minerals. The micronutrient pellet Micro-Max, developed by KER, is a concentrated source of natural vitamins and chelated minerals. Peekaboo would require one scoop (60 g) of Micro-Max daily. In Australia, horse and donkey owners should look to Gold Pellet, Perform, or Nutrequin.

To provide comprehensive hoof support, I suggest using a product with at least 15 mg of biotin, combined with other key nutrients shown to improve hoof condition. For example, Bio-Bloom PS offers 20 mg of biotin as well as iodine, zinc, and methionine. Research has shown that these nutrients provide greater improvement to the hoof than biotin alone. Bio-Bloom PS would also be top-dressed on feed at 1 oz daily. In Australia, look for Bio-Bloom.

One note about the hay you provide Peekaboo: because donkeys can efficiently utilize fiber and easily become obese when overfed, they often do well on hay of average quality. You may consider looking into other types of hay that are slightly lower in protein. Interestingly, the protein requirement for donkeys is rather low and thought to be around 3.8-7.4%, whereas the requirement for mature horses is between 8-12%. Depending upon how much alfalfa is in your hay, it may be providing more protein than Peekaboo needs. This would be especially important if she becomes more idle.