The industrial improvement of donkey-hide gelatin and the development of related products, such as donkey meat, donkey milk, and donkey-hide gelatin cake, drive the upstream donkey breeding industry. However, the shortage of donkey germplasm resources seriously restricts the further development of the donkey industry. Under the biological limitations of long breeding cycle, slow breeding, low conception rate, high abortion rate, and low survival rate, lower numbers of donkey foals have become an important limiting factor in the development of this industry. In this paper, we clarify the ways by which the survival rate of donkey foals can be improved from five aspects: selection and breeding of female donkeys; physiological characteristics of donkey foals; key points of nursing; prevention, and control of transportation stress; and control of common diseases. These aspects are important in enhancing the economic benefits of donkey farms and breeding farmers.

Keywords: Female donkeys, donkey foals, feeding, survival rate, nursing