Monash University reproductive research is helping save the world’s most endangered donkey breed.
 
In a world first, a rare and prehistoric-looking Poitou donkey foal has been born to a surrogate Standardbred horse after embryo transfer from the biological mother, who was bred by artificial insemination.

The foal brings to only three the number of Poitou donkeys in Australia. The foal was born three weeks ago under the guidance of Angus McKinnon, BVSc, MSc, Dipl. ACT, Dipl. ABVP, an honorary research fellow at Monash University’s Institute of Reproduction and Development (MIRD), and co –author of Equine Reproduction.

McKinnon says the horse has adjusted well to her unusual-looking foal and is nurturing it as any mother would its natural offspring.

The female donkey foal was born to a Standardbred mare at the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, near Shepparton. A breeding pair of Poitou donkeys brought to Australia by Yarra Glen couple Ron and Dianne Condon, produced the embryo