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Here in the United States, donkeys are seldom used for any kind of work anymore, although they were used in years past. Since they are small, and do not require as much feed as a horse or mule, they were mainly used as a pack animal here, too. We always see the pictures of gold prospectors with their faithful donkey coming along beside them. Most of the time, that donkey was their only companion for months at a time, so the donkey was well loved by the prospector, and cared for as well as possible.
Donkeys have a much more docile disposition than either a horse or a mule, and they are very smart. They are also a protective animal, and some ranches will keep a "guard donkey"out with a flock of sheep to protect it from predators, since the donkey will attack a coyote, and even a cougar should one come close to the flock.
Most everything here is done with machinery; but when livestock are used for domestic work, it is usually a mule that would be used. Since the large mammoth jack donkey can breed with a draft horse mare, they can produce some vary large mules which are perfect for pulling carts or dragging logs, or whatever is needed.
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