Schools that keep donkeys must be assigned a PIC. The school must record the identity of the donkeys kept at the school and the movements to and from this PIC with dates.
| Approved activities | Category |
|---|---|
| Hoof trimming: cattle, horses and donkeys | 3 |
Routine husbandry activities for donkeys that may be carried out by school staff and students include:
- Internal parasite control
- External parasite control
- Vaccination
- Hoof trimming
- Clipping.
Information about internal and external parasite control and vaccination for donkeys can be found in the disease prevention section.
Identification
From 1 September 2012, anyone who keeps livestock in NSW is required to obtain a PIC for the land on which the livestock are kept. This includes all donkeys within NSW. A property identification code or PIC is a unique identifier for land used for keeping livestock. PICs are assigned to individual properties and allocated by Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA). Schools that keep donkeys will need to be assigned a PIC.
Individual donkeys may be identified by branding or microchipping.
Microchips must be administered by a veterinarian and can be carried out at any time of the donkey’s life.
Hoof trimming
All donkeys require regular hoof trimming. The interval between trimming will depend on the season, the feed intake, local weather conditions and the individual donkey’s age, health and confirmation.
Donkeys with access to higher nutrient pasture or supplementary feeds will have faster growing hooves. Seasonal change can also influence hoof growth as pastures become more nutritious during spring months. Donkeys kept on soft ground will also need more regular trimming in comparison to donkeys on harder ground as their feet will naturally be worn away. Donkeys with poor confirmation or have been neglected previously, may need more regular trimming and care.