To obtain new and useful qualities in animals, experts carry out the crossing of horses not only among themselves, but also with donkeys. The result is a combination of the best qualities from both the first and second. The resulting hybrids have strength, calm, good health and longevity.
Loshak and a mule - the difference between them is that in the first, the donkey is the mother and the stallion is the father. For the second, the father is a donkey, and the mother is a mare.
What are interesting mules
Mules were cultivated for a very long time, back in the Middle Ages. People were faced with the task of obtaining a large animal that could bear the weight of a heavily armed knight, along with all his uniforms. As riding animals, mules were popular among the clergy, women, and other sections of the population. Possessing special qualities, hybrids were highly appreciated by travelers.
Female mules were most often used for horseback riding, while males served as pack animals.
If you compare the mule and hinnies, then the first is much easier to breed. Obtaining offspring from an interspecific hybrid is almost impossible. The male mule is 100% sterile, and females in most cases will not bring long-awaited babies.
Over the entire long history of the existence of these animals, only 60 cases of offspring are known. The point here is that horses and donkeys have a different number of chromosome sets. Due to this feature, for the most part, normal formation of germ cells does not occur.
Mule Characteristic
What is the difference between hinny and mule? The difference in the photo is visible to the naked eye. Just look at the images to see it. Mules are superior to horses in the following qualities:
- endurance;
- life span;
- lack of feed requirements;
- no special care required.
The fruit of the love of a donkey and a mare can be of a draft or pack type. The first have a weight of 400 to 600 kg, the second from 300 to 400.
All males males undergo the castration process at the age of one and a half or two years. Accustoming to work begins at the age of two, and mules can carry a full load from 4 years of age. These animals have an amazing mind, do not tolerate abuse, but at the same time they are very patient and loyal. Mule farming is carried out on every continent.
Horse mules are used not only for a variety of work, but also for participation in sports events. Animals are allowed to the same disciplines as horses:
As for horse racing, there are special races exclusively for mules.
Who is a loshak
These animals are children obtained from stallions and donkeys. The outward features of hybrids inherit from donkeys. The exception is the head (ears are shorter), and the sounds of hinnies emit somewhat different.
These animals are bred in Asian and Mediterranean countries. Hinnies have less stamina and performance compared to mules, and therefore they can be found much less often.
As for the general characteristics of the hybrid, they are as follows:
- in height at the withers 110–140 cm (for pack type), up to 160 cm (for harnesses);
- color of hair - inherit from mother;
- animals are draft, riding, pack.