Modified Apgar Score and Early Physical Parameters in Luxi Black Donkey Foals at Birth: A Prospective Observational...

Neonatal assessment in donkey foals is essential for reducing perinatal mortality and improving early management, yet breed-specific data remain scarce, particularly for indigenous Chinese breeds such as the Luxi Black donkey-an economically and genetically valuable breed of Shandong Province for which neonatal vitality has not been previously characterized. This prospective observational study aimed to describe the distribution of a modified four-parameter Apgar score and to summarize early physiological and morphometric parameters in Luxi Black donkey foals at birth. The study further explored whether these early parameters differed across Apgar score categories, with the aim of providing preliminary breed-specific reference data for neonatal assessment in this indigenous donkey breed. Fifty Jennies and the resulting 51 foals were enrolled at the National Black Donkey Breeding Center in Dong'e County, Shandong, China. Within 5 min of delivery, each foal was scored using a modified Apgar system (heart rate, respiratory rate, muscle tone, reflex response; maximum 8), and heart rate, respiratory rate, time to first suckling, rectal temperature, birth weight, body height, body length, chest girth, and abdomen girth were recorded. Foals were grouped according to their observed modified Apgar score categories (8/8, 7/8, 6/8, and 0/8). All 51 foals were included in the descriptive analysis of Apgar score distribution, while the three stillborn foals with an Apgar score of 0/8 were described separately and excluded from statistical comparisons. Physiological and morphometric parameters were compared only among live-born foals with Apgar scores of 8/8, 7/8, and 6/8. Of the 51 foals, 35 (68.63%) scored 8/8, 7 (13.73%) scored 7/8, 6 (11.76%) scored 6/8, and 3 (5.88%) were stillborn. Among live-born foals, respiratory rate (p = 0.008), time to first suckling (p < 0.001), and rectal temperature (p = 0.001) differed significantly among Apgar score categories, whereas heart rate showed no significant difference (p = 0.052). Birth weight and morphometric measurements did not differ significantly among live Apgar score categories. These preliminary findings suggest that the modified Apgar score may support early descriptive observation of neonatal status in Luxi Black donkey foals, although further studies with larger cohorts and objective outcome-based measures are needed.