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Romagnolo

Romagnolo

The Romagnolo or Asino Romagnolo is an Italian breed of donkey. It originates in, and is named for, the region of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy. It is raised mainly in the province of Forlì-Cesena, but also in the Metropolitan City of Bologna and in the provinces of Ravenna and Reggio Emilia. It is one of the eight autochthonous donkey breeds of limited distribution recognised by the Ministero dell'Agricoltura, della Sovranità Alimentare e delle Foreste, the Italian ministry of agriculture and forestry. The conservation status of the Romagnolo was listed as "critical" by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2007. The Asino di Sant'Alberto is considered to form part of the breed.

Life Span 25-30 years
Weight 180-450 kg

What to Know Before Buying a Romagnolo

Finding a responsible Romagnolo breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells donkeys commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.

Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Romagnolo. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.

Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Romagnolos appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.

Looking for a Romagnolo breeder?

Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.

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