Pitou Donkey

This farm is home to a Poitou donkey breeding pair.

The Poitou donkey is an ancient and critically endangered breed. It was developed in western France and it is in France where most of the Poitou are today. The Poitou was recognized as a breed in the 1700’s. The Poitou donkey was bred to the Poitevin draft mare to produce very large, easy going , and strong draft mules essential to agriculture. French mule breeding was famous throughout Europe, especially mules developed with the Poitou donkey. The Poitou donkey was nearly extinct after WWII when industrial farming and mechanized farm equipment reduced the demand for the draft mule. By 1980, there were only 80 Poitou’s living. Since the 1980’s, the Asinerie du Baudet du Poitou and Naturel Regional du Marais Poitevin in France and the Livestock Conservancy in the U.S. have each and together worked to re-establish the breed. As is the case with a breed close to extinction, there may be farmers who have a Poitou donkey but don’t know it. The Livestock Conservancy is searching for such unrecognized Poitou. In the U.S., there were several imports in the early to mid 1900’s, but many imported Poitou were not kept purebred.

Today, there are about 2,500 Poitou worldwide, with almost all in France. There are a few hundred in the U.S., most in Texas, where one farm, TexasPoitou, spearheaded conservation practices and promotion of the breed.

The Poitou is the largest donkey breed. It is stout, big boned, with a massive head and ears. They typically have long curly locks. On this farm, Jade de Pierotine, known as Piero, is smooth coated and Hedy, the female, has long curly locks. Hedy was due with her 3rd foal in the fall, 2026. Male donkeys are called jacks and females are called jennies.

Conservation of rare breeds assures livestock biodiversity. Once a breed goes extinct, its genetics are lost forever. Gene banks provide some safety for those breeds whose semen has been collected, but the full genetic package of a breed is limited to those individuals in each semen sample.

Some farmers today continue to use draft animals including the Poitou. Most Poitou are used for breed conservation.

Suffolk Punch Draft Horse

Over the years, this farm has been home to two Suffolk Punch draft horses during their retirement years. This is a very large, beautiful, and willing draft breed. Both Cindy and Maude were fully trained to farm work and had not only trained other Suffolks but were also “teachers” of students who wanted to learn about draft horse farming.

Jake

Jake was a small, “Sicilian” donkey. He was mischievous and charming and roamed his fenceline greeting every youngster who wanted to touch a living Shrek.