“It’s the prettiest”: Cozak, a donkey from Gironde, crowned French champion in his category

With his beautiful black coat, his delicate white spots under his belly, around his nostrils and his large eyes, he was able to seduce a demanding jury. Cozak is a Girondin donkey of the Grand Noir du Berry breed who takes part in the work on the Moquets farm in Donnac. This donkey, measuring 1m45 at the withers, won a national competition in the approved donkey category on September 8 in Lignières (Cher). A source of pride for his breeding couple Stéphanie and Grégory Peyrat.

“It’s a breed that is threatened, on the verge of extinction. There are almost no more. We are trying to do as much as possible to be able to increase the birth rate“, indicates Grégory Peyrat. “It’s something that is very close to our hearts and what’s more, they are beautiful. Donkeys are very intelligent animals. They are hardworking, kind, very affectionate. They’re really quite extraordinary.”

Located in Blayais, near the border with Charente, the Moquets farm is surrounded by oaks, maritime pines, birches and acacias. Between the geese standing guard, Gaston the pig, the goats Toison, Roudoudette, Chouchou and Mimi, without forgetting the turkeys, Stéphanie and Grégory Peyrat transform donkey and goat milk into cosmetics (100% natural ingredients, including including the origin of fragrances), offer animal mediation, horseback riding in the forest, while growing fruits and medicinal plants, all in short circuits.

“We haven’t borrowed anything, we have no debt and we’re on our own. We don’t ask anything of anyone. But the farm is not spared from the crisis of the agricultural model. My wife today still has her job in 35 hours because the income from the farm is not enough. It’s complicated but we’ll get there.”assures Grégory.

In case of blues, the breeder couple can count on their donkeys. “If you’re angry or upset, they feel it right away. There for example, Cozak is very cuddly, he will try to tear off my shoelace.” At the Moquets farm, the animals live freely and work the land with “hillers, harrows and brabants” the old way.

Labeled an educational farm, the 6-hectare farm is continuing its diversification by launching into the production of goat’s cheese in 2025. A commitment “Monday to Monday“and it’s not the rooster that wakes everyone up.”In the morning, Cozak is used to having his bucket of hay quite early, and if I hang around or if I’m late, he’ll come up to the front of the house and he’ll bray.”

To discover its natural donkey milk soaps, the Moquets farm is organizing a local producers’ market on November 3, 2024. Committed Blayais farmers and breeders like Stéphanie and Grégory Peyrat will offer products exclusively from their farms.