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}}The Provence Donkey, {{lang-fr|Âne de Provence|italic=no}}, is a breed of domestic donkey from Provence, in south-eastern France. It is now distributed through much of central and south-east France, with the highest concentration in Provence and the Rhône-Alpes region.[7] For hundreds of years the Provence donkey was used by transhumant shepherds of the area as a pack animal in the seasonal movement of flocks of sheep between their summer pastures on the high Alps of Haute-Provence and the Dauphiné and their winter grounds in Basse-Provence.[8]
History
The earliest records of the use of donkeys by shepherds in Provence are from the fifteenth century. During the seasonal transhumance between the low ground where the sheep over-wintered and the high alpine pastures where they spent the summer months, donkeys were used as pack animals. They carried, on specially adapted pack-saddles, the equipment and supplies needed by the shepherds along the journey.[[8] The area of origin of the breed appears to coincide exactly with the area, consisting of Provence and parts of Savoie and the Ardèche, where transhumant sheep-farming was traditional.[8]]
Following the mechanisation of transport in the twentieth century, first by rail and then by road, the breed declined at an alarming rate. At the end of the 19th century, a census in the départements of Provence recorded 13,000 head; in 1956 the number had fallen to around 2000, and by 1993 no more than 330 could be identified.[7]
A breeders' association, the Association de l'Âne de Provence, was formed in December 1992,[13] and worked with the Haras National, the national stud, of Uzès, in Languedoc-Roussillon, to achieve recognition of the breed. A stud-book was opened in December 1995,[ and in November 2002 the Provence donkey received the official recognition of the Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'alimentation, de la pêche et des affaires rurales, the French ministry of agriculture.][ The current population is estimated at 1500.[7]]
Description
At three years old, Provençal jacks stand {{convert|1.20|–|1.35|m|in|abbr=out|0}} at the withers, and jennies {{convert|1.17|–|1.30|m|in|abbr=on|0}}.[4]
The coat is dove grey, varying from pale to dark, with pinkish lights. The muzzle and surround of the eyes are pale; the forehead and ears usually have a russet tint. There is a well-marked darker dorsal stripe and shoulder-stripe; zebra-striping of the legs may be present. The limbs are solid and the hooves relatively large.
Use
Provençal donkeys are still used in transhumance by some shepherds.[7] The Provence Donkey is suitable as a pack animal, for light driving and for riding. Its character and sure-footedness even on broken ground make it suitable for trekking. It may be used in vegetation management, for brush clearance to reduce fire risk.[8]
{{Gallery
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| File:Ane de provence SDA2010.JPG
| alt1=Head of a Provence donkey
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| File:Ânes de Provence du Domaine de l'Aragon à Entrepierres.jpg
| alt2=Heads of two donkeys
| Colour variation
| File:Ânes de Provence à Entrepierres.jpg
| alt3=Two woolly donkeys with their heads down
| Dorsal stripe and cross
}}References
1. ^1 2 3 4 Lætitia Bataille (2008). [https://books.google.com/books?id=3LLZpbM8K9oC Âne de Provence] (in French). In: Races équines de France. France Agricole Éditions. {{ISBN|9782855571546}}. {{nobreak|259–264.}}
2. ^1 Serge Farissier (2007). [https://books.google.fr/books?id=Ml3OZejH0H0C L'Âne de Provence] (in French). In: L'âne. Editions Artemis. {{ISBN|9782844166425}}. {{nobreak|p. 79–81.}}
3. ^1 2 3 4 L'âne de Provence (in French). Haras nationaux. Accessed July 2014.
4. ^1 Waltraud Kugler, Hans-Peter Grunenfelder, Elli Broxham (2008). [https://web.archive.org/web/20090902110918/http://www.save-foundation.net/pdf/donkey.pdf Donkey Breeds in Europe: Inventory, Description, Need for Action, Conservation; Report 2007/2008]. St. Gallen, Switzerland: Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe. Archived 2 September 2009.
5. ^1 Elisabeth Svendsen (1997). [https://books.google.it/books?id=KHMvAQAAMAAJ The Professional Handbook of the Donkey]. London: Whittet Books. {{ISBN|9781873580370}}. {{nobreak|p. 141–142.}}
6. ^1 2 3 Pierre Schwartz (26 November 2013). Annexe I: Standard de l'âne de Provence (in French). Annex to: Arrêté du 26 novembre 2013 modifiant l'arrêté du 14 novembre 2002 portant approbation du règlement du stud-book de l'âne de Provence, Ministère de l’alimentation, de l’agriculture et de la pêche. In: Journal officiel "Lois et Décrets" 0283, 6 December 2013: 19907. Accessed July 2014.
. Accessed July 2014.