The Sardinian (
Italian: Asino Sardo,
Sardinian: Molente or Molenti) is an Italian
breed of
donkey from the Mediterranean island of
Sardinia, to the west of Italy.[4] It is raised throughout the island; there are also some small populations in mainland Italy.[5]: 172 It is one of the eight
autochthonous donkey breeds of limited distribution recognised by the
Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali, the Italian ministry of agriculture and forestry.[6] Its
conservation status was listed as 'endangered' by the
FAO in 2007[1]: 70 and as 'at risk/endangered' in
DAD-IS in 2024.[2] The breeding population reported for 2022 numbered just over 3600 head, with 2094 jennies and 963 jacks in 788 herds.[2]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asino sardo.
^Breed data sheet: Asino Sardo. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed September 2013.
^Daniele Bigi, Alessio Zanon (2008). Atlante delle razze autoctone: Bovini, equini, ovicaprini, suini allevati in Italia (in Italian). Milan: Edagricole.
ISBN9788850652594.
These are the
donkey breeds considered in Italy to be wholly or partly of Italian origin. Many have complex or obscure histories, so inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively Italian.