3,689. Animals That May Not Be Used to Redeem a Donkey

Hilchos Bikkurim 12:8

A firstborn donkey may not be redeemed with a calf, a wild animal, a sheep that has been slaughtered, an animal that has been mortally injured, a crossbred animal or a koi (an animal whose status as wild or domesticated is in doubt). This is because Exodus 13:13 says, “Redeem it with a seh.” The word seh means a living sheep or goat.

Hilchos Bikkurim 12:9

One may not redeem a firstborn donkey with a sheep that looks like a different type of animal, though if one did so, it is effectively redeemed. If a pregnant sheep was slaughtered but the offspring survived, it may be used for redeeming a donkey. An animal that was consecrated but became invalidated and was redeemed may not be used to redeem a donkey. Deuteronomy 15:22 compares such an animal to “the deer and the hart.” Just like a deer and a hart may not be used to redeem a donkey, the same is true of a consecrated animal that was invalidated.