The Miniature Donkey Stud Book And Registry Of The UK

The Miniature Donkey Stud book of the UK is the only register created solely for the Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys in this country and were opened 12 years ago to ensure that the purity of this special breed of donkey in Great Britain. The Stud book has now been recognised as a Stud book of Origin (mother stud book) under the terms of the EEC. The Stud Book has three sections: ID register: General Register and Studbook Register.

Conditions of entry into our General Register and Stud Book Register are detailed on the MMDA Registry page.

The vast majority of the Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys in the UK are recorded within the our Stud Book. We are able to investigate the ancestry of donkeys registered with us and frequently provide pedigrees of at least 3 generations and sometimes ancestry dating back to the first imports into the USA in 1929! Some of the donkeys registered with us have over 400 traceable recorded ancestors. This information is vital for improving the breed and avoiding inadvertent in-breeding. It is therefore also most important that all new foals are registered to record their lineage for future years.

Miniature donkeys (within the 36" height specification) but with only one generation of recorded pedigree may also be registered in our general register, and their offspring upgraded over two generations. This is in fact just as important to ensure future generations can be monitored so that their Miniature Mediterranean status can be proven.

Stud Book conditions of entry below:

THE STUD BOOK

The Miniature Mediterranean Donkey Association hold a Stud Book for Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys on behalf of DEFRA This is called The Miniature Mediterranean Donkey Stud Book.

This is the mother Stud Book for Europe.

This Stud book is divided into 3 registers, some with sub sections.

Identification Register (ID)
General Register (G)
Stud Register (SB)

Sub sections in the identification register are -

donkeys with one Miniature Mediterranean parent,
donkeys that have grown over 36” or have failed to achieve minimum height.
donkeys produced by inbreeding.

NB (Foal Registration numbers for such donkeys have ID after the number e.g. 508-ID. The certificate is grey and stamped ‘Identification Register’.)

Sub sections in the General Register are -

foals awaiting maturity.
geldings.
donkeys not entered into Stud register.
donkeys lacking 3 generations - grading up (G Improving).
inspected donkeys grading up.

Sub sections in the Stud Register are -

foundation donkeys pre 2003.
donkeys with 3 generations.
donkeys with two stud registry parents.
inspected donkeys

Registration rules for EU bred donkeys

All EU donkeys have to be micro chipped before registration

At birth

donkey foals who are produced by inbreeding (see glossary) go into ID and may not grade up.
donkey foals with only one registered parent go into ID but the next generation, that will therefore have two generations are eligible for the grading up register.
all other foals who have two registered go into General registry - sub section foals

At 3 years (actual age)

all males confirmed as geldings and of correct size (see glossary) receive General registry certificate.
donkeys that have grown over 36” go into the Identification registry
donkeys with missing generations (see glossary) and correct size go into improving section of the General registry

NB Great grandparents qualify with only a registration number and name. The name need not have a prefix.

NB These donkeys can be inspected by a vet as suitable for breeding.

Donkeys that are eligible can be entered into the Stud Registry

to be eligible 3 year olds must be

under 36” and over 29” (30” for jennies)
and have a 3 generation pedigree or have both parents in Stud register

and if a stallion,

to be inspected by a vet as suitable for breeding

NB Great grandparents qualify with only a registration number and name. The name need not have a prefix.

Registration rules for Foreign bred donkeys

In addition all must have been DNA typed for parentage and be micro chipped before leaving the country of origin.

When applying for MMDA registration the relevant foreign pedigree registration certificate must be supplied

Visit this link (application form) to view and print off an application form to register your miniature donkey.

Sample Certificate

Example of a Miniature Mediterranean Donkey Association Registration Certificate.

Notice the words Stud Register, this indicates that the donkey in question is in our Breeding Stud Register. To gain entry to this register the donkey must have at least three registered generations in his pedigree, have no inbreeding, and has been inspected by a veterinary surgeon as fit for breeding, showing no obvious faults.

The Miniature Mediterranean Donkey Association is the 'mother stud book' of Europe and the only DEFRA recognised Stud Book in the UK for Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys.

When buying a Miniature Mediterranean Donkey check whether it is registered with the MMDA as pure bred and with no inbreeding. Ask to see the Registration Certificate as shown here.

Example pedigree.

This in an example of a pedigree which is always printed on the reverse of a certificate, showing the names, registration numbers, height and colour of the ancestors.

Here you can see three registered generations on the reverse of this certificate.