An exploration of the intersections between donkey welfare and sustainable agriculture. A case study of Beitbridge district.

Abstract

This study examined the critical interdependence between donkey welfare and socioeconomic outcomes in smallholder farming systems of Beitbridge district, Zimbabwe, where donkeys served as essential agricultural assets. The research employed a mixed-methods design that combined quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 80 farming households to assess the multifaceted role of working donkeys. The analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between donkey body condition and household food security. Each incremental improvement in body condition score increased food security likelihood by 72%. Feed quality demonstrated a significant positive relationship with welfare outcomes, while workload intensity showed a substantial negative association. A noteworthy finding indicated that alternative power sources negatively affected food security outcomes, reducing household food security likelihood by 41%. This counterintuitive result underscored the indispensable role of donkeys in this agricultural system. Socioeconomic analysis demonstrated that households utilizing donkeys intensively achieved markedly better outcomes, including 36% higher socioeconomic status scores, 77% greater crop yields, and 44% more food-secure days per month compared to low-use households. Despite widespread recognition of donkeys' contributions among farmers (90-94% acknowledged their importance for productivity and drought resilience), implementation of welfare measures remained inconsistent. Only 74% of farmers supported veterinary care investments, while 16% denied overwork occurred, revealing a concerning gap between awareness and practice. The study proposed four evidence-based recommendations: implementation of community supplementary feeding programs, establishment of workload management protocols, development of subsidized shelter systems, and creation of women-led care collectives to address gender disparities in donkey management. These findings advocated for policy frameworks that formally recognized working equids as vital components of agricultural systems. The research contributed to the growing body of knowledge supporting integrated One Health approaches that simultaneously addressed animal welfare and human livelihood needs in resource-constrained farming environments.