Donkeys generally love to eat grass or hay. They do, however, enjoy feasting on desert plants, vegetables, and shrubs as well.
During the summer, a healthy diet for an adult donkey should consist of 25% grass or hay and 75% straw.
During the winter, their food should consist of 50% straw and 50% grass/hay.
This knowledge will help you give your donkeys the best food during each season.
However, since donkeys eat vegetables, do they eat collard greens as well? Let’s see.
Can Donkeys Eat Collard Green?
Yes, Donkeys can eat collard green. Collard green is vegetables that have large green leaves. They are super nutritious to donkeys. Collard green is rich in Vitamins A, C, K, and B6. It also contains nutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, choline, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, and folate. These nutritional elements can help your donkey stay healthy.
This article contains lots of interesting facts about feeding collard greens to donkeys. Continue reading to learn more.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Collard Green To Donkeys?
Collard green is super nutritious. Adding them to your donkeys’ diet is a boost to them. Here are some detailed benefits of collard green to donkeys.
1. Healthy Bones
Collard greens are high in vitamin K. This is essential for bone health. Getting enough vitamin K in their diet can help their bones absorb calcium.
This strengthens their bones’ underlying structure.
2. Disease Prevention
Donkeys naturally produce free radicals as a byproduct of using energy. These free radicals can damage other cells, potentially causing heart disease.
Collard greens are rich in antioxidants. This neutralizes free radicals thereby, preventing certain diseases from occurring.
3. Improved Immune Health
Collard greens provide Vitamin A and C. These vitamins are important to donkeys’ immune systems.
Vitamin C helps keep their blood cells healthy. Vitamin A is important for healthy T-cells.
These T-cells attack invading bacteria and viruses.
4. Aids digestion
Collard greens are high in both fiber and water content. These help to prevent constipation in donkeys.
It also promotes regularity and maintains a healthy digestive tract.
5. Prevent anemia
The iron present in collard green helps prevents anemia. A lack of iron in your donkeys’ diet can affect how efficiently the donkeys use energy.
This makes foods with iron nutrients a plus to your donkeys.
6. Ensures good eye health
Collard greens are full of nutrients that are good for your donkeys’ bodies, including their eyes.
As stated earlier, these green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamin A. Vitamin A has been shown to play a crucial role in vision.
Here is an article I wrote on what do donkeys eat
How Often Should I Feed Them Collard Green?
Collard green is super healthy for donkeys. They aren’t just treats. They are vegetables which means they can be everyday food for donkeys.
However the amount of collard green given in a day matters. As nutritious as it is, do not overfeed your donkeys with it.
Ensure you give them a moderate amount of collard green per day. This is to prevent your donkey from getting stomach upsets.
Can Mini Donkeys Eat Collard Green?
Yes, mini donkeys can eat collard green. Collard greens are safe and healthy for mini donkeys as well.
They eat pretty much the same thing as other breeds. So if you have a mini donkey, go ahead and let it enjoy some collard green.
Mini donkeys can also eat carrots, bananas, apples, pears, and turnips. However, ensure to cut fruit or vegetables into small pieces.
This allows them to eat safely, without any choking hazard.
Can Donkeys Eat Collard Green Beans?
That’s a definite yes. Collard green beans are a great idea for donkeys. Donkeys can safely eat collard green beans.
They are not too hard to eat, which makes it easy for the donkeys to chew.
In addition to that, this meal is very healthy for donkeys. It has nutritional benefits like Vitamin C, A, K, E, and B6, folate, thiamin, niacin, manganese, calcium, and a lot more vital nutrients.
There’s no doubt that these nutrients can help donkeys stay healthy.
However, collard green beans should be given in small quantities. It is most preferred that they are served cooked.
This is to get rid of pesticides which washing can’t clean.
Can Donkeys Eat Collard Green Pepper?
Unfortunately, donkeys cannot eat collard green pepper.
While there is an abundance of fruits and vegetable donkeys can eat safely, there are also many that should be avoided as they are toxic for donkeys.
Collard green pepper is one of them. They are unsafe for donkeys. Other unsafe foods include kale, peaches, brussels sprouts, plums, broccoli, tomatoes, garlic, cauliflower, etc.
Also, sugary biscuits, bread, cake, and meat or dairy products shouldn’t be given to donkeys.
Since donkeys are herbivores, animal protein can be fatal to them. It’s therefore advisable to exclude this from their diet.
Also check out this article I wrote on can donkeys eat broccoli
Things To Watch Out For Before Feeding Them Collard Greens?
Collard greens are super nutritious. However here are some things to note before feeding them to your donkeys.
1. They can cause bloating when taken excessively
Collard greens are healthy for donkeys, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Collard greens are full of fiber.
Usually, it takes longer for the body to digest fiber than many other substances.
Eating too much fiber at once can lead to uncomfortable side effects like bloating or gas. It is best not to feed your donkey with too many collard greens in a day.
In addition, cut large produce into smaller pieces. To prevent choking, cut veggies into smaller pieces.
2. They are best served cooked
Just not to get you confused, collard greens can be eaten raw by donkeys. It is, however, safer to cook this vegetable before feeding it donkeys.
Well, as you may know, bacteria are killed during cooking. That’s basically what makes cooked collard greens better.
3. Preservation Technique
Food preservation is super important when dealing with animals. However, choosing the right preservation technique is key.
You have to ensure you have a preservative plan for collard greens. Nonetheless, this veggie is best preserved in a refrigerator.
4. Clean veggie thoroughly
If you plan on feeding your donkeys raw collard greens, ensure they are properly washed and cleaned.
This ensures your donkeys aren’t poisoned with dirt. Washing greens with warm or slightly hot water is preferable.
Scrub the outside of the vegetables thoroughly. Just like you’d do for yourself, scrub down the produce under running water or soak in warm water for a while.
Use a scrubbing brush for especially dirty produce and wash it for at least 30 seconds. Use small, circular motions.
This is aimed at removing pesticides and dirt from the produce.
5. Avoid feeding them bad collard greens
Ensure you don’t feed your donkey bad collard green. Stick to fresh, new products to keep your donkey happy and healthy.
6. Age and weight
It’s is also necessary to put into consideration the age and weight of your donkey.
Before feeding your donkey with collard greens you have to ensure it’s appropriate for its age.
It is also important to note that an active donkey will burn more calories. Unlike those who do not move around much.
If your donkey is already overweight you need to cut down on treats. Better still cut it out thoroughly until his weight is normal.
7. Ensure you don’t hand feed them
Put the veggies in a bucket to prevent your donkey from nipping at you. Cut up a few pieces of veggies and set them in the bucket.
Place the bucket near your donkey. Ensure it’s is kept where it can reach it easily.
How Can I Feed Collard Greens To My Donkeys?
The most interesting part about feeding donkeys this veggie is combining it with other veggies and fruits.
Since donkeys love vegetables, combining collard greens with vegetables and fruits like carrots, pumpkin, and apple would definitely get your donkeys hooked.
However, you can take it a step further by making something yummy for your donkey. Here’s a simple recipe your donkey would definitely love.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large carrot, chopped
- 1 pound collard greens, chopped
- Salt to taste.
Preparation:
Heat the oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped carrot Simmer for 2 minutes until they are somewhat softened.
Then, add the collard greens and cook for 1 minute more. When the greens are soft, add a little salt to taste. And Walla! It’s ready for your donkey to eat.
Conclusion
Collard greens are super nutritious and safe for donkeys to consume. These vegetable is high in vitamins and minerals, making it ideal to the overall health of donkeys.
However, since this veggie causes bloating and other conditions when taken in excess, it is best to feed donkeys in moderation.
Collard greens are best served cooked. This helps to get rid of the effects of pesticides and other harmful bacteria.
