What inherited predisposition makes careful dietary monitoring crucial for zonkeys?
Answer
The efficiency in extracting nutrients from sparse forage, leading to obesity and laminitis risk
Donkeys, being historically desert animals, possess a remarkable efficiency in extracting nutrients even from sparse forage. A zonkey is likely to inherit this hardiness from its donkey parent. Consequently, if fed the richer, high-sugar grasses that are common in temperate zones, this efficiency translates into a high predisposition toward developing obesity and laminitis, which are serious hoof issues. Therefore, managing the zonkey's caloric intake and sugar consumption is paramount, favoring a constant supply of low-sugar grass hay over free-feeding grains or rich alfalfa unless significant work demands justify supplementation.
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