Qingyang Donkey

Qingyang Donkey

The Qingyang Donkey is an agricultural product with geographical indication status.

　　The Qingyang Donkey has a sturdy and robust build, with a body length slightly greater than its height and a well-proportioned structure. It has a medium-sized head, well-developed neck muscles, good chest development, a relatively large abdomen, straight limbs, distinct joints, and hooves that are of moderate size yet solid. Its temperament is gentle and docile, and it moves with agility. The coat color is mainly "three-flush" (san fen — white face, white muzzle, and white belly), with a small number of gray and blue-gray varieties.

　　The Qingyang Donkey reaches sexual maturity at one year of age. Male donkeys can impregnate females at one and a half years old, while females can foal before reaching two years of age. At birth, male foals weigh 27.5 kg and female foals weigh 26.7 kg. Ideal breeding age is from two and a half to three years for males and from two years for females, with well-cared-for individuals usable up to 20 years of age. A single donkey can give birth to around 10 foals in its lifetime. The slaughter rate can exceed 50%, with a net meat yield of 35.7%.

　　Origin and Environment

　　The Qingyang Donkey is mainly produced in Qingyang, Ningxian, Zhengning, Zhenyuan, and Heshui counties within the Qingyang region of Gansu Province, as well as in the Pingliang area. The production area lies on the Loess Plateau in eastern Gansu, at an altitude of 1,000–1,700 meters, along the upper reaches of the Jing River. It features a temperate semi-arid climate, with an average annual temperature of 9–10.5°C, maximum temperatures ranging from 21–40°C, and minimum temperatures between –15––30°C. The frost-free period lasts 120–180 days, and annual precipitation ranges from 300–500 mm, mostly concentrated in July to September. The soil is fertile and the climate mild, earning the area the nickname “Granary of Eastern Gansu.” The main crops are wheat, followed by corn, sorghum, millet, broomcorn millet, and potatoes. Alfalfa and other forage crops are also grown, accounting for approximately 6.8% of cultivated land. On average, each large livestock animal has access to 1.8 mu of alfalfa fields. Coupled with the utilization of agricultural by-products, this results in favorable feeding conditions. These favorable natural factors are one of the key contributors to the development of the Qingyang Donkey.

　　Geographic Distribution

　　The Qingyang Donkey is predominantly distributed across the Qingyang and Pingliang regions.

　　Breed Characteristics

　　The Qingyang Donkey is a medium-sized breed. It has a sturdy and robust build, with a body shape close to square and a well-proportioned structure. Its head is of moderate size, though some individuals may have slightly larger heads. The eyes are large and the ears are not overly long. The neck muscles are thick. The chest is well developed, with rather arched ribs, a straight back and loin, a full abdomen, a croup that is slightly sloped but not pointed, and well-developed musculature. The limbs are correctly positioned, with moderate bone density, large and distinct joints, clearly visible muscles and tendons, and hooves of moderate size. The coat is most commonly black, with black-coated donkeys often having grayish-white or light gray areas around the mouth, eyes, and underbelly, including the upper inner parts of the legs. There are also smaller numbers of blue-gray and gray-coated varieties.

　　Geographic Range

　　The main production areas of the Qingyang Donkey are centered around the Dongzhi Plateau, including Xifeng District, the entire county of Qingcheng, as well as Hesheng and Jiaocun in Ningxian, Tunzi, Shangxiao, Mengba, and Linjing in Zhenyuan County, Quzi and Mubo in Huanxian, and Hejiapan and Banqiao in Heshui County. The current population is about 25,500, with an annual slaughter of 6,000 and production of 54,000 kg of donkey meat. The production area is located in eastern Gansu Province, situated on the Loess Plateau of eastern Gansu and in the upper reaches of the Jing River. It borders Zhenyuan County to the southwest, Huanxian to the northwest, Heshui to the east, Ningxian to the south, and Huachi to the north. It lies between 106°24′–108°42′ east longitude and 35°25′–37°9′ north latitude. The region spans approximately 130 km from north to south and 90 km from east to west, covering a total area of 3,679 square kilometers.