# The Donkey Genome: From Evolutionary Insights to Sustainable Breeding Strategies

## TL;DR

This paper reviews donkey genomics to improve breeding and conservation by addressing data limitations and translating genomic insights into practical strategies.

## Contribution

A roadmap for sustainable donkey breeding through standardized data collection and genomic insights, focusing on overcoming current research limitations.

## Key findings

- Genomic studies reveal donkey origins, dispersal, and adaptations to environmental stressors.
- Genes and pathways linked to thermotolerance, metabolism, reproduction, and milk production are identified.
- Small sample sizes and inconsistent data quality hinder progress in donkey genomics.

## Abstract

Donkeys are an important livestock species that play a significant role in agriculture and rural livelihoods. However, their genetic potential has remained largely unexplored. Recent advances in genomics have provided new insights into the evolutionary history of donkeys. These studies have also identified genetic factors underlying key traits related to survival and productivity, including heat tolerance, metabolism, and reproduction. Such findings are essential for improving breeding programs. They can enhance donkeys’ adaptability to diverse environments and optimize their contributions to milk, meat, and hide production. Despite these advances, the application of genomics in donkey breeding is still constrained. Small sample sizes and inconsistent data quality remain major challenges. This research proposes a roadmap to overcome these limitations. It emphasizes improved data collection, optimized breeding strategies, and sustainable conservation efforts. By addressing these issues, the study aims to support the long-term preservation of donkey populations and maximize their economic value for future generations.

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are economically and ecologically important livestock species whose genetic potential remains underexplored. This review synthesizes recent advances in donkey genomics, tracing their evolutionary history while evaluating current applications in selective breeding, conservation genetics, and agricultural management. By integrating evidence from population genomics, functional genomics, and comparative evolutionary studies, we summarize major genomic discoveries and identify persistent knowledge gaps, with a focus on translating genomic information into practical breeding outcomes. High-quality reference genomes, population resequencing, and ancient DNA analyses have clarified the African origin, global dispersal history, and environmental adaptation of donkeys. Genome-wide approaches, including GWAS, QTL mapping, and multi-omics analyses, have further identified genes and regulatory pathways associated with thermotolerance, metabolism, reproduction, and milk production. Nevertheless, progress is still limited by small sample sizes, variable sequencing depth, and inconsistencies in phenotyping and bioinformatic pipelines, which constrain cross-population comparisons and practical applications. Addressing these challenges through standardized phenotyping, improved data integration, and collaborative research frameworks will lay the groundwork for effective conservation strategies and sustainable genomic breeding of global donkey populations.