, nickname = , country = Spain , maleheight =109–123 cm , femaleheight = 103–123 cm , maleweight =170–210 kg , femaleweight = 140–190 kg , coat = black or dark

bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a Gulf (geography), gulf, sea, sound (geography), sound, or bight (geogra ...

, group1 = MAPA (Spain) , std1
Breed standard
The , eu, , is a

breed A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...

of small domestic donkey from the western part of the autonomous community of the

Basque Country Basque Country may refer to: * Basque Country (autonomous community), as used in Spain ( es, País Vasco, link=no), also called , an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain (shown in pink on the map) * French Basque Country o ...

, in north-east Spain. It is named for the comarca of

Las Encartaciones Enkarterri (Spanish: ''Las Encartaciones'') is a comarca of the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country, Spain. It is one of the seven ''eskualdeak/comarcas'' or districts that make up the province of Biscay. Its administrative centre is Balmase ...

(Enkarterri), in the province of Biscay (Bizkaia). It is the only small donkey breed of Spain, and resembles the Gascon donkey, now a sub-type of the Pyrenean donkey. The Asno de las Encartaciones is critically endangered, and is protected by conservation measures.

History

The Asno de las Encartaciones is indigenous to the western part of the province of Biscay, and is concentrated in the municipalities of

Artzentales Artzentales (Artzandaritz) is a municipality in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg ...

Balmaseda Balmaseda (in Basque and officially, in Spanish: ''Valmaseda'') is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country. Balmaseda is the capital city of the comarca of Enkarterri, in western Biscay and serves an impo ...

Galdames Galdames () is a valley, town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. Main sights are Santa Maria Magdalena and Arenaza caves, both situated in Triano mountain range an ...

Gordexola Gordexola is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg ...

Güeñes The council of Güeñes is a municipality in the county of Encartaciones (Biscay, Basque Country, Spain). It is furrowed by the waters of the river Cadagua and forms with its neighbor, the municipality of Zalla, Salcedo Valley. In the North it bor ...

, Karrantza,

Lanestosa Lanestosa is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg ...

, Sopuerta,

Turtzioz Trucios-Turtzioz (Turtzioz in Basque; Trucios in Spanish; Trucíos in Cantabrian) is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain , image_flag = Bandera de ...

and

Zalla , population_note = , population_density_km2 = auto , blank_name_sec1 = Official language(s) , blank_info_sec1 = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST = CEST , utc ...

. The breed almost disappeared during the course of the twentieth century. The fall in numbers began in the first decades of the century, and was most rapid in the 1960s and 1970s; the population numbered about 1000 in the early 70s, and had fallen to barely 100 by the late 90s. As with other donkey breeds, the principal causes were the

mechanisation of agriculture Mechanised agriculture or agricultural mechanization is the use of machinery and equipment, ranging from simple and basic hand tools to more sophisticated, motorized equipment and machinery, to perform agricultural operations. In modern times, po ...

and the depopulation of rural areas. The Asno de las Encartaciones was presented at

agricultural fair An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which breeding stock is exhib ...

s in Gordexola in 1994 and at Markina in 1995. As a result, a breeders' association, the , was formed in 1996, and a conservation plan, including a 12-hectare reserve at Gordexola, was published in 1999. The breed was officially recognised in 2004. Its conservation status was listed as "critical" by the FAO in 2007 and by the

SAVE Foundation Save, SAVE, or Saved may refer to: Places *Save (Garonne), a river in southern France *Save River (Africa), a river in Zimbabwe and Mozambique *Sava, a river in Eastern Europe also known as Save *Savè, Benin, a commune and city * Save, Govuro ...

in 2008. No population data is published by the

Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food ( es, Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, MAPA), is the Spanish government departments, department of the Government of Spain responsible for proposing and carrying out the government ...

, the Spanish ministry of agriculture. Numbers of about 100 were reported in 1999, 2001 and 2008.

Characteristics

The Asno de las Encartaciones is the only small donkey breed in Spain. It stands about and weighs approximately . The coat is black or dark

in colour; the belly, muzzle and surround of the eyes are pale-coloured. It may have a darker

dorsal stripe Primitive markings are a group of hair coat markings and qualities seen in several equine species, including horses, donkeys, and asses. In horses, they are associated with primitive breeds, though not limited to such breeds. The markings are ...

Use

The Asno de las Encartaciones is small but strong. It was used in the extraction of minerals from the mines of the Cantabrian coast, and in all kinds of agricultural work. Its hooves are small and do not damage the terrain. Because of the competitive nature of jacks, Basque farmers preferred to keep jennies; the

meat Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted, farmed, and scavenged animals for meat since prehistoric times. The establishment of settlements in the Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals such as chic ...

of jack foals slaughtered at about three months was a traditional local delicacy.

References

{{Basque animal breeds Donkey breeds originating in Spain Donkey breeds Basque domestic animal breeds