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Back to Color Genetics Calculators Miniature Donkey

Miniature Donkey Coat Color Calculator

Estimate foal coat colors for miniature donkeys based on Extension, Dun, Agouti, and Brown genetics.

Genetics
Extension Controls black pigment
Dun Dilution + primitive markings
Dominant White Autosomal dominant white patterning
Ivory Recessive blue-eyed white
Brown Brown coloration
Light Points NLP/NLP = no light points
Roan Rn/Rn
Genetics
Extension Controls black pigment
Dun Dilution + primitive markings
Dominant White Autosomal dominant white patterning
Ivory Recessive blue-eyed white
Brown Brown coloration
Light Points NLP/NLP = no light points
Roan Rn/Rn

Genetics Guide

Donkey colors are determined by Extension, Dun, Agouti, and Brown genes.

Red Factor (Extension)

Controls the base color to start as black or red.

  • ed Recessive red; ed/ed = red/sorrel only.
  • Ed Produces black-based pigment.

Dun

Softens the base color.

  • d No dun effect; full intensity.
  • D Dun dilution with dorsal stripe, shoulder cross, and leg barring.

Dominant White and White Spotting

Ranges from white spots to nearly all white coats.

  • N No white patterning detected.
  • Ws White Spotted.
  • W Dominant White.

Ivory

A cream or white coat with blue eyes and pink skin, unlike frosted spotted white (dark eyes, dark skin spots). The American Donkey and Mule Society describes it as recessive, so this tool models it as one recessive gene.

  • I No ivory.
  • i Ivory. i/i is ivory; I/i is a carrier that shows its base color.

Brown

Controls brown coloration intensity.

  • br No brown effect.
  • Br Br/br = brown; Br/Br = chocolate/dark brown.

No Light Points

Controls pale muzzle/eye rings, belly, and inner legs.

  • lp Standard light points.
  • NLP Removes light points.

Roan

White hairs interspersed throughout coat.

  • Rn Roan patterning.
  • rn No roan.

Genetic data referenced from UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory.

Miniature donkey colors are shaped by a handful of genes: Extension for a red or black base, Agouti and a brown modifier for the shade, a recessive gene for the blue-eyed ivory, and separate white patterns such as spotting. Pick the jack and jenny above to estimate a foal, then use the guide below to read the result. A genetics lab test confirms what each parent carries.

Miniature donkey coat colors

The common colors, from the widespread gray to the blue-eyed ivory.

How donkey color is inherited

A few plain rules explain most foal color surprises.

Frequently asked questions

What colors do miniature donkeys come in?

Common colors include gray, black, red (sometimes called sorrel), brown, and ivory, plus spotted patterns that sit on top of a base color. Gray is by far the most common, and most donkeys show frosted lighter points around the eyes and muzzle along with the classic dorsal cross.

Can two red donkeys have a black foal?

No. Red is recessive, so a red donkey carries two red alleles and can only pass red on, meaning two red parents produce a red foal. The opposite catches people out: two dark parents can each carry a hidden red allele and produce a red foal.

What makes a donkey ivory or white?

Ivory is the cream or white donkey with blue eyes and pink skin. The American Donkey and Mule Society describes blue-eyed white as recessive, so it can stay hidden for generations and appear when two carriers are bred, and this calculator treats it that way. It is not the same as frosted spotted white, which has dark eyes and dark skin spots and is a form of spotting. Dominant white is a separate white that needs only one copy to show, and it has its own choice in the calculator. Ask a genetics laboratory which donkey color tests it offers before you plan a pairing around ivory.

Should I DNA test a miniature donkey for color?

If foal color matters to your breeding plan, a DNA test through a recognized genetics laboratory reveals the hidden Extension, Agouti, brown, and pattern alleles that a coat alone cannot show. This calculator is an educational estimate and does not replace laboratory testing or professional advice.