European perspectives in donkey husbandry and breeding with insights from Bulgaria

Donkeys have served as valuable working animals since their domestication approximately 6,000 to 7,000 years ago in Northeast Africa. The global population is currently estimated at 50.5 million donkeys and 7.9 million mules, primarily concentrated in developing countries. According to official data, these numbers are increasing, particularly in African and Asian regions. In contrast, the trend in many European countries is one of decline, with some local breeds already extinct or facing the threat of extinction. The situation is especially critical in the Balkan region, where, despite a growing interest in donkey milk and related products, local breeds remain poorly described and the populations exhibit significant phenotypic and genetic variation. The objective of this study is to identify current trends in donkey husbandry, with a particular focus on the situation in Europe and, more specifically, in Bulgaria—a country with a long-standing tradition in donkey breeding that faces the challenge of recognizing or rediscovering the value of this species. Donkeys have the potential to make a meaningful contribution to modern, sustainable agriculture, promoting livestock diversity and enhancing food security.