A sttudy was conducted using two pairs of donkeys to lift water from 3m suction head.  Three discharge pressure heads (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kg/cm2.) were created using a 38 mm x 32 mm reciprocating pump. The donkeys worked for 5 hrs, 4 hrs and 3 hrs respectively at the above pressure heads before they were fatigued. The pump discharged 5056.66 ± 58.11 to 4316.66 ± 60.90, 4953.33 ± 37.11 to 4036.66 ± 44.09 and 4726.66 ± 53.64 to 4066.66 ± 88.19 liters of water per hour at the corresponding pressures. The corresponding power developed by the animals, to obtain the above discharge was 0.72 ± 0.01 to 0.49 ± 0.01, 0.78 ± 0.02 to 0.45 ± 0.06 and 0.83 ± 0.02 to 0.56 ± 0.04 kW respectively. The walking speed of the donkeys, power developed and water discharged showed a decreasing trend over the duration of work. Calculations showed that pressure of 1.5 and 2.0 kg/cm2 was suitable for drip irrigation for appropriate widely spaced horticultural crops on a small scale. The pulse rate (PR), respiration rate (RR) and body temperature (BT) increased with the duration of work. As the pressure increased the animals showed early fatigue symptoms.