author(s)
RA Legha, Yash Pal, Vijay Kumar, R Sachan, RK Dedar and TR Talluri

abstract
Two local donkeys of Halari breed, weighing 221.33±3.17 kg were used in carting to pull load equal to i) twice (x2) and ii) thrice (x3) their live weight including the weight of operator for three consecutive days. The carting was carried out for a total distance of 10 km in two stretches of 5 km each with a rest of 20 min between the two stretches. During work under carting, donkeys were under trot. All physiological indices (pulse rate (PR), respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT^oC) increased significantly (p<0.05) after work and returned to normal by next morning. Donkeys carrying two times of their body weight were able to carry load without stress whereas under the three times of body weight load, donkeys were fatigued as indicated by biochemical indices and fatigue symptoms.