Benefits

  • Registration affirms that donkeys and mules have equal status with other domestic animal breeds.

  • Stud books and registries acknowledge breed foundations in their historical context and record how breeds are developing.

  • Registration prevents inbreeding, such as can occur if parentage is lost or unknown in Australia's limited and quite related donkey population.

  • Registration ensures that each donkey or mule is identified by a brand or microchip that lasts their lifetime and enables their trackability.

  • It also allows pedigrees to be easily passed on if a donkey or mule changes hands.

  • Registration improves the welfare of donkeys and mules by ensuring breeders adhere to a code of ethics, are aware of breed standards and desirable conformation, and do not breed animals that are too young.

  • Registration papers enhance the value of stock by providing valuable information to potential buyers.

  • Registration provides breeders and purchasers with a better degree of knowledge and expectation regarding their donkey or mule’s type and mature size.

  • Registration allows notable bloodlines to be identified over time and aids breeders in selection towards their breeding goals.

  • Registration also gives some indication of the donkey and mule population in Australia and important trends.

  • Registering each donkey or mule contributes funds that enable DABSA to support owners and breeders by providing important information and supporting events like shows and social days.

A white and brown spotted American Mammoth donkey lying down in an arena. It is wearing a halter and a round number tag and has a kind face.

DABSA registration

A woman in a pink shirt, black pants, and a wide-brimmed hat long-reins a donkey with brown spots in a grassy outdoor area. The horse is harnessed and approaching a white and red barrel.

There is a DABSA register or stud book for every donkey and mule in Australia.

A man in a white shirt and sunglasses pats a brown donkey in harness in between show events. The donkey is outdoors on a sunny day.
Learn more about our breed registers and their eligibility requirements

How do I register my donkey or mule with DABSA?

Process to follow

  • You must be a financial member of the Donkey All Breeds Society Australia to be able to register your donkey/mule (refer to our membership page).

  • You can register a Stud Name with DABSA if intending to breed and register foals (refer to our membership page).

  • Download and complete the registration form and any other required documents on the bottom of this page.

  • Include one side-on photo of the donkey/mule with all applications for registration.

  • Make the required payment to the DABSA account:

    BSB: 032 272

    Account number: 206375

  • Submit the completed registration form, photo and all other required documents to our Registrar, Kerry Wailes via email (kwailes261@gmail.com), including a screenshot showing you have made payment.

A woman wearing a helmet rides a gray mule while leading a brown American Mammoth donkey in an outdoor riding arena.

Additional requirements

  • If you are NOT the owner of sire of foal, a Service Certificate must be supplied with the application for registration.

  • Both sire and dam must be adult registered before any progeny can be registered.

  • All registered donkeys/mules are required by regulations of the society to have some form of individual and permanent identification, either a brand or microchip.

  • Veterinary certificate of soundness is required for ALL jacks at adult registration.

  • Adult registration is required, generally at 3 years old. Requirements for adult registration are height check, dependent on breed, and new photo (one side-on). Jacks also require a vet check.

  • Australian Miniatures and American Jackstock can be granted temporary adult registration from 3 years old. Permanent registration will be granted at 5 years old when a height update is provided.

    Transfer of registered stock

  • It is the responsibility of the seller to forward registration papers and the transfer form to the Registrar when selling an animal.

  • New owners will only receive papers if they are a financial member of the Society.

  • The Registrar will send a letter to the new owners if they are not a member, advising that they will need to join to receive the animal’s registration papers.

    After death or gelding

  • In the event that a registered animal dies, or a registered entire adult male is gelded, registration certificates must be forwarded to Registrar for amendment of the Society records.

  • In the case of gelded adult males, new papers will be issued when a gelding certificate is provided.

A man wearing a cowboy hat and a blue plaid shirt holds a red miniature donkey with a blue ribbon around its neck in an indoor arena.
Three competitors pose with miniature donkeys and the show judge in an indoor riding arena. Each donkey has been awarded a ribbon.

Registration Documents

A woman in a pink cap and blue t-shirt kneeling on the ground, smiling and holding a young donkey's blue and purple lead rope inside a riding arena.
A young girl in a cowboy hat and patterned shirt is leading a donkey over a jump in a covered arena.

FAQs

  • Firstly, you need to become a member of DABSA.

    Each breed register has eligibility requirements which can be viewed on our breed registers page.

    If you aren’t sure which breed register your animal is eligible for, reach out to our Registrar, Kerry Wailes. Provide her with as much information as possible about your donkey/mule such as their breeding, and any other registration from a reciprocal Society.

  • Each application for registration must be accompanied by one side-on photo of your donkey/mule. To get a good photo, we recommend that you restrain your donkey/mule with a halter and lead rope.

  • DABSA accepts registration information from the American Donkey Society and the New Zealand Donkey Society to prove breeding. A copy of the registration certificate would of course be required.

  • No, you need to be a financial member of DABSA to receive registration papers in your name.

    The normal procedure is that the seller, if a DABSA member, should forward paperwork to the Registrar and you would then be contacted by the Registrar.

    If you have been given a registration certificate by the seller, you would need to provide proof of ownership, such as a transfer form or letter of sale signed by seller.

Two competitors with their winning donkeys pose with the judge of the 2023 DABSA National Show.