Catalan donkey
equus africanus asinus latin

The farm of Fuïves, the primary breeding center for the Catalan donkey.

They were frequently seen at local horse fairs, and were used to breed mules in a cross with Catalan donkeys.

The Catalan donkey is related to the donkey of Mallorca and the zamorano-llionés donkey.

After winning several shows and contests, the Catalan donkey is called 'the best donkey in the world', especially for pulling carts and as pack animal.

In the past the donkey was very important on farms but due to declining use and numbers the Catalan donkey was in danger of extinction.

A few people also do not regard the catalan donkey as a symbol of Catalonia, but only as a way to try ridicule the Castillian bull.

The "ruc català" or "burro català" (Catalan donkey) has become a symbol of Catalonia in Spain.

Breeds that may have influenced the mammoth include the Maltese, Poitou, Andalusian, Majorcan and Catalan donkeys.

Recently, advocats of Catalan nationalism have adopted the Catalan donkey as a symbol opposite the Toro de Osborne, typical for Castile and Andalusia.

It was used to breed mules, and the Pyrenees mule was derived from a cross between Catalan donkeys and horses of the Breton, Merens and other breeds.

The "ruc català" or "burro català" (Catalan donkey) is a relatively recent creation when the need was felt to produce something Catalan to oppose to the Central Spanish Osborne bull, widely perceived by Catalans as a centralistic symbol, alien to their culture.

However, in the United States, a dedicated number of mule breeders continued the tradition as a hobby and continued breeding the great lines of American Mammoth Jacks started in the United States by George Washington with the gift from the King of Spain of two Catalan donkeys.

This means that the proper scientific name for the donkey is Equus africanus asinus when it is considered a subspecies, and Equus asinus when it is considered a species.