White spotting patterns occur in many donkey breeds and are similar to those of horses in that the amount of white can range from a few white hairs to an animal that is almost completely white. Two variants have been identified in donkeys that contribute to white patterning (W and Wˢ).
Long-haired donkeys produce thick, shaggy coats. Two allele variants inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion have been identified as causing this phenotype.
Donkeys in several breeds have darker pigment around the muzzle, eye rings, belly, and upper and inner aspects of the legs and are described as having no light points (NLP).
The mutation causing red body and red trim (called sorrel, chestnut, or red) in donkeys has been identified in the melanocortin 1 receptor gene and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
