The most common breed of donkey in China is the Xinjiang donkey, which is also the most famous breed.
1. The main production areas are Kashgar and Hotan regions in southern Xinjiang. Distributed in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu, the agricultural areas of Qinghai, the semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral areas, and the Xiji donkeys in Ningxia, Guyuan, and Xiji; the donkeys produced in Wuwei (ancient Liangzhou), Zhangye, and Jiuquan in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu are represented, also known as Liangzhou donkeys. In addition, it is also distributed throughout northern Xinjiang.
2, environmental conditions Xinjiang belongs to the continental climate, due to the influence of mountains and deserts, summer temperatures are high and arid, direct sunlight in the desert, the temperature can reach 55 °C. Windy sand, large temperature difference between day and night, that is, the so-called "wear leather jacket early and wear yarn at noon, and eat watermelon with the stove in hand." The frost-free period is short, the precipitation is small, and there are large areas of grassland pastoral areas and developed agricultural areas with green islands. Crop yields are low due to climate and water sources. Due to the long-term poor socio-economic conditions in history, peasants have relied on donkeys for farming, transportation, and riding as means of transportation. It can be said that everywhere someone lives there is a distribution of donkeys.
3, production performance Xinjiang donkey 1 year old has sexual desire, male donkey 2 to 3 years old, female donkey 2 years old began to breed. Malnutrition and miscarriage are rare in extensive rearing and heavy labour, and the survival rate of young foals is over 90 per cent. The 150th Regiment of the Eighth Agricultural Division of the Xinjiang Corps once introduced the Guanzhong donkey to hybridize with the local small donkey, and the body height of its descendants reached 120 to 125 centimeters. Turpan modified donkey height can reach 125 to 130 cm. It can be seen from this that attracting large donkey breeds to hybridize and improve Xinjiang donkeys and improve the size and weight of local donkeys is an important way to raise meat donkeys and improve meat production.