From pack animals to polo: donkeys from the ninth-century Tang tomb of an elite lady in Xi'an, China

Hu, Songmei; Hu, Yaowu; Yang, Junkai; Yang, Miaomiao; Wei, Pianpian; Hou, Yining; Marshall, Fiona

doi:10.15184/aqy.2020.6

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Donkeys were commonly used for packing, transport, and breeding, a result in line with those of Abebe et al (2020) who reported that donkeys are mostly employed by farmers for social status, cart pulling, and draft power. As reported by Hu et al (2020), donkeys are widely used for household breeding and transport, and large donkeys are useful for mule breeding. These could be possible opportunities for farmers to better utilize their indigenous donkeys.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Donkey production systems and breeding practices in selected districts of South Omo Zone, southern Ethiopia

Wassie,

Getachew,

Kassa

et al. 2023

Rangeland J.

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The study was conducted to understand the production system and breeding practices of Omo donkeys and provide baseline information for future production strategies. The data were collected through individual interviews, focus group discussions, and personal observation. A semi-structured questionnaire using 2012 Food and Agriculture Organisation guidelines was used to obtain respondent views. On the basis of donkey population, production potential, and road accessibility, 76 households from two districts were randomly selected and interviewed. Donkey growth performance and body size were given a higher priority in breeding selection. Most respondents selected their breeding donkeys based on growth performance, body size, and disease resistance. The criteria for culling were old age, body size, poor fertility, temperament, and colour. Variables that were given a higher priority in trait preference were disease resistance and pulling ability. Water shortage and disease were significant constraints to donkey production. Therefore, to address these constraints, the concerned bodies should invest in infrastructure to increase access to water and other services so as to support the livelihoods of donkey-dependent communities. Moreover, funding for animal healthcare and nutrition initiatives should be provided to ensure the health and well-being of animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Donkey production systems and breeding practices in selected districts of South Omo Zone, southern Ethiopia

Wassie,

Getachew,

Kassa

et al. 2023

Rangeland J.

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“…The author declares no conflict of interest. Notes 1 (Hu et al 2020). While historians have known that polo was sometimes played with donkeys or mules or even on foot, the archaeological evidence gives more credence to these historical references.…”

Section: Conflicts Of Interestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Riders in the Tomb: Women Equestrians in North Chinese Funerary Art (10th–14th Centuries)

Shea

2023

Arts

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For many women living in parts of present-day north China and Mongolia during the 10th to 14th centuries, equestrian activities were a part of daily life. Women of all social levels were expected to know how to ride from an early age. However, documentary evidence for women’s participation in equestrian activities during this period is sparse. This paper brings together materials that highlight the important role horse riding played in the lives of northern women during the 10th to 14th centuries from the funerary context. This study connects funerary objects with women’s participation in polo, hunting, warfare, and the Mongol postal system, among other activities. The synthesis of material evidence from tombs with period texts will illuminate the important role of equestrian activities in women’s lives and afterlives during this period.

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“…Therefore, the number of large-scale donkey breeding farms in China has dramatically increased in recent years. According to the China Statistical Yearbook ( 12 ), the number of donkeys raised on large-scale donkey breeding farms accounts for more than 13% of the total donkey population, and the majority of these donkey breeding farms are located in North, Northwest and Northeast China. These donkey farming systems are unlike any seen before globally in terms of their scale, intensity, technology and level of investment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey report on the donkey original breeding farms in China: Current aspects and future prospective

Zhang

Huang²,

Wang³

et al. 2023

Front. Vet. Sci.

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IntroductionThe number of the large-scale donkey breeding farms in China has increased dramatically. However, information regarding the situation of a Chinese donkey population under large-scale donkey breeding farms is limited.MethodsThis survey report was conducted using questionnaires online to investigate the current situation of the donkey original breeding farms in China, in terms of donkey stock, local breeds, reproductive parameters, growth and lactation performance, and future perspectives. China has developed the donkey reserve system based on national, provincial and non-governmental (self-own) donkey original breeding farms.ResultsIn the present study, a total of 38 donkey original breeding farms concentrated in Northern of China were studied, and 52% of them keep their donkeys with a stocking density of 100–500 donkeys. China is rich in various local donkey breeds, and 16 local donkey breeds including large-sized, medium-sized and small-sized breeds were collected in our survey. Dezhou donkey are prevalent with a percentage of more than 57% of the total donkeys, while the Cullen donkeys belong to small-sized donkey breeds are scare. The reproductive efficiency and donkey productivity were different across donkey farms, indicating potential differences in management and breeding practices between different donkey original breeding farms. The artificial insemination has been performed in these donkey farms with an average proportion of 73%. Regarding the donkey productivity, the national and provincial donkey original breeding farms showed a higher birthweight and fat content in donkey milk than self-own farms. Furthermore, our results indicate that the donkey breeds with different body size also have important influence on the reproduction parameters and donkey productivity, with the large-sized donkeys had better performance compared to the small-sized donkeys.DiscussionIn summary, our survey provided valuable baseline information on the situation of donkey population dynamics in the donkey original breeding farms. However, further study is required in the future to investigate the factors such as donkey health care, management and nutrition during breeding, fattening and lactation that influence donkey productivity under large-scale farm systems.

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From pack animals to polo: donkeys from the ninth-century Tang tomb of an elite lady in Xi'an, China

Abstract: Abstract

Cited by 13 publications

References 26 publications

Donkey production systems and breeding practices in selected districts of South Omo Zone, southern Ethiopia

Donkey production systems and breeding practices in selected districts of South Omo Zone, southern Ethiopia

Riders in the Tomb: Women Equestrians in North Chinese Funerary Art (10th–14th Centuries)

A survey report on the donkey original breeding farms in China: Current aspects and future prospective

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