Baudet du Poitou

The Baudet du Poitou is a large French donkey breed distinguished by a long, shaggy coat. It was historically used as a pack animal and to sire mules.

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Donkey: A domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae, descended from the African wild ass. The Baudet du Poitou is a distinctive breed within this species.
Domestication of the donkey: The process by which people brought African wild asses into human husbandry, beginning several thousand years ago. The breed belongs to the long history of domesticated donkeys.
Pack animal: An animal trained to carry loads on its back. The breed carried goods across roads and rural terrain.
Endangered livestock breeds: Domesticated animal breeds whose populations have fallen enough to risk loss of their genetic heritage. The Poitou donkey's decline made conservation a central concern.
Equidae: The mammal family containing horses, donkeys, and zebras. This family places the breed within the wider group of equines.
Poitou: A historic region of western France, now chiefly within the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Its name and early breeding history are tied to this region.
Mule: The hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Mules were the principal product of the breed's notable breeding role.
Livestock breed conservation: Efforts to maintain populations and genetic diversity in domesticated animal breeds. Breeding programs help preserve this rare French donkey.
Corded coat: A coat in which long hair forms hanging cords or locks. The breed's unusually long hair can tangle into characteristic cords.
French agriculture: The cultivation of crops and raising of livestock in France. Farms in western France bred and worked the animals.