Donkeys are ‘natural protectors’ and farmers are recruiting them to guard against wild dogs

A donkey supplier in regional New South Wales says there has been a 300 per cent jump in demand for the animals as farmers ramp up efforts to protect stock from wild dogs.

Eliezer Robinson has supplied donkeys to farmers for years, after finding they were fiercely defensive once bonded with a herd.

He said when multiple donkeys were on the job, they worked together to protect the herd against predators.

“When there’s a fight, the first donkey will stay with the herd while the other donkeys go out and take the fight away from the herd,” Mr Robinson said.

“Once the fight’s been won, the first donkey will go out and help finish it.

“The donkeys are a very family-orientated animal; family means everything to them.”

The success of the guardian donkeys has caught the attention of other regional farmers.

Over the past five years, Mr Robinson has imported 500 donkeys from the Northern Territory.

This year alone 335 donkeys will be making their way down to the NSW Mid North Coast.

Mr Robinson said locals had reported an increase in wild dog sightings in recent months.

“They seem to be breeding up in the forestry around us and there’s not much being done about it, so we’ve got to sort ourselves out,” he said.

North Coast Local Land Services (LLS) said it was impossible to estimate the number of wild dogs roaming the region.

“There’s a constant issue with wild dogs across the Coffs Harbour area and the greater North Coast region,”  LLS team leader of invasive pests Dean Chamberlain said.

“It waxes and wanes depending on where the dogs are and what sort of risk and impact they’re causing.”

Mr Chamberlain said landholders were ultimately responsible for managing pests on their properties.

“We can provide them with the tools and they can do the management themselves; that’s the best way to get long-term management,” he said.

“I’d say with guardian animals, just be aware that there is a certain amount of work and there is a responsibility to still care for the animal. 

“It’s not just a matter of plonking them in a paddock and then letting them supposedly do the job, which they may not do if you don’t put the effort in.” 

‘An instant success’

Eric Fraser, manager of Sumo Wagyu in Grafton, introduced guardian donkeys on his farm after an increase in cattle injuries from dingo attacks. 

Mr Fraser said the attacks halted almost immediately after the donkeys joined the herd.

“The cattle that were processed the day previous to the donkeys going in, to the cattle that were processed three months later … they never had a bite mark on them,” he said.

“It was an instant success.”

Mr Fraser said a lack of information on guardian animals, and donkeys in particular, could be the reason why more farmers were not utilising them. 

“It’s one of those things, you can’t afford not to have them in there,” he said.

“A donkey running around a paddock with your cows that protects them, it’s not going to harm your income.” 

Mr Robinson agreed.

“Donkeys give you time off, you can go home and go to bed at night and the donkey’s still working,” he said.

“I believe in the donkey because they’re tough, they’re just a natural protector.”