The Donkey Sanctuary, an animal welfare charity with a site near Sidmouth, says it has developed a pioneering suckling system.

One of the charity's grooms reportedly came up with the idea after seeing an artificial suckling system used for new-born lambs when working in farming.

They tried using the new system on an orphaned donkey foal, Sam, which they had been feeding using bottles every three to four hours.

The artificial system, a plastic tube leading from an enclosed milk bucket to a lamb bottle teat attached to a stable door, meant that the formula was accessible 24 hours a day. The foal would suckle at differing times, similar to normal rearing behaviour.

Artificial suckling system set-up and operation (The Donkey Sanctuary)

The Donkey Sanctuary's Senior Lead Behaviour and Human Behaviour Change Ben Hart said: "Although rare, orphaned foals are one of the greatest challenges to equid care and welfare. Hand-rearing is often the only option for equine sanctuaries when an orphan arrives. However, too much inappropriate handling from humans can result in behavioural issues as the foal grows.

"Developing this artificial feeding system, which mimics the natural environment, is a great example of how team collaboration, academic excellence and lateral thinking can significantly improve not only the health, welfare and behavioural development of donkeys in our care but also equines around the world who can learn from our pioneering work."

Other natural behaviours were also observed in the foal, such as headbutting the teat, chewing or rubbing the teat, and staying close by even when not feeding, which are similar to when foals stay close to their mothers in the first five months of life.