Must Know Facts About Donkey Milk

Donkey milk may appear to be a fashionable novelty to the market. But it has really been around for thousands of years.

It has lately regained popularity, particularly in regions of Europe, appealing to both adventurous eaters eager to try new meals. And beverages and those seeking natural foods with health advantages.

Donkey’s milk can sold for Rs.10,000 per litre in many towns of the country, according to numerous media sources. It cost to 100 rupees for 10 ml, which has thought to promote immune function and circulation.

Donkey Milk History

• Jackasses are individuals from the Equidae family, which incorporates ponies and zebras. Domesticated donkeys of various varieties may found all over the world. And like many other animals, female donkeys, known as jennies, have bred for their milk for thousands of years.
• It has long been using for medical and cosmetic purposes. Hippocrates allegedly used it to cure arthritis, coughing, and sores. Cleopatra has reported having kept her skin silky and flawless by bathing with donkey milk.
• It has antibacterial qualities and has used in regions of Africa and India as a folk medicine remedy for illnesses such as whooping cough and viruses.
• Jackass milk most intently matches human bosom milk when contrasted with milk from other dairy creatures like cows, goats, sheep, bison, and camels. In fact, it has initially used to feed orphaned newborns in the nineteenth century.
• Donkey farming is gaining popularity. Most farms, however, are tiny, with 5-30 milking jennies. Each only makes around 4 cups (1 liter) of milk every day. As a result, milk is rather scarce and regarded as a specialty commodity.
• Raw donkey milk is typically marketing on farms that produce donkeys. In the United States, federal law makes it illegal to carry raw milk over state boundaries. Pasteurized milk may sold by certain larger farms.

Why is Donkey Milk So Costly?

• Lactic acid bacteria account for around 80% of the bacteria in donkey milk, making it effective for lowering gastrointestinal troubles. “It has been utilizing to treat cardiovascular illnesses, irresistible sicknesses, liver-related infections, fever, and asthma, prompting an expansion popular and cost for jackass milk.”
• Donkey milk is abundant in trace elements, such as vitamins and minerals, whereas cow and goat milk is heavy in protein. It may aid in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, however, no medical studies have conducted to support this claim, and more research has required.
• Donkey milk is less allergenic than cow milk and more akin to human milk, hence it has given to infants. Furthermore, milk frequently lacks food-borne pathogens seen in other forms of milk, resulting in longer shelf life.
• Donkey milk has used in cosmetics and has recognized for moisturizing the skin in addition to its health benefits. It is possible to freeze it and make it into a cosmetic powder.

Donkey Milk Nutrition

• Donkey milk is nutritionally equivalent to human breast milk and cow’s milk. It contains vitamins, minerals, and protein.
• It has less fat and hence fewer calories than other kinds of milk and contains higher vitamin D. The majority of the calories in donkey milk originate from carbohydrates, specifically lactose.
• The nutrition information for 3 ounces (100 mL) of it, human breast, and whole, vitamin-D-fortified cow’s milk have shown in this chart.
• Casein and whey protein make up the majority of the protein in dairy milk. Casein is the protein that most people who have a cow’s milk allergy respond to. Donkey milk is comparable to human breast milk in that it contains less casein and more whey.
• Donkey milk contains whey protein, which has antibacterial characteristics. It includes chemicals that can inhibit viral and bacterial development.
• It has shown in laboratory experiments to inhibit the spread of germs such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.

What Makes Donkey Milk Unique?

• Donkey milk is considered a rare product since a single donkey only produces around a liter of milk every day. It can be found in yogurts and cheeses, as well as in powdered form in some foreign chocolates, although it is not widely available in India. Despite its popularity throughout Europe, It is utilized in infant formulas and therapeutic meals in Italy.
• The donkey can see as little more than a beast of burden, despite its vast underappreciation and overexploitation. But did you know that Cleopatra used to take daily baths in donkey milk for skin benefits? Every day, almost 500 donkeys milked to make milk for her bath. That may sound like one of those made-up Cleopatra myths, but it’s genuine.
• Donkey’s milk is good for a variety of conditions, including liver problems, infectious infections, fevers, edema, nose bleeds, poisonings, and wounds.
• In India, a liter of donkey milk costs more than 4000 INR. Most people would think it’s a joke, yet it is one of the most costly kinds of milk in the world. It is also true that the most costly cheese in the world is make from it.

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Benefits of Donkey Milk

• Donkey milk fans frequently drink it for its health advantages, which extend beyond its nutritional value. It has received particular attention as an allergen-friendly and immune-boosting meal.
• In comparison to cow’s milk protein, which has around five times more casein than whey, Its protein contains almost equal proportions of casein and whey.
• Since of its substantially reduced casein concentration, many persons with a cow’s milk protein allergy can accept donkey milk because it does not trigger an allergic reaction.
• This can be advantageous for anyone who is allergic to cow’s milk but may benefit from the protein and other nutrients provided by dairy milk.
• An Italian study of 81 youngsters with cow’s milk allergies discovered that all were able to consume it with no adverse effects. The use of donkey milk allowed for consistent weight and height growth.
• Still, if you have a known allergy, see your doctor before consuming donkey milk. Even though it has less casein than cow’s milk, a tiny quantity of casein can trigger allergies in certain people.
• Lactose is another significant component in it. It aids in the absorption of calcium, which is necessary for healthy bones.
• Other components in milk may aid in immune system function. Laboratory research discovered that donkey milk can boost the release of cytokines, which are proteins that stimulate the immune system.
• The same study discovered that donkey milk induces cells to create nitric oxide, a chemical that aids in blood channel dilation. Nitric oxide can increase blood flow to your blood vessels, lowering your blood pressure.

Drawbacks of Donkey Milk

• The most significant disadvantage of donkey milk is its high cost and scarcity. Because the quantity and size of donkey dairy farms are restricted, it is costly to manufacture and sell — and hence difficult to find.
• Some major producers in Europe sell powdered milk, although shipping internationally can be costly.
• It is particularly expensive and difficult to utilize for cheesemaking due to its high price and low casein concentration.
• Another possible disadvantage is that most small farms only offer raw donkey milk, which raises the risk of foodborne disease.
• Although donkey milk has antibacterial capabilities and is frequently found to be pathogen-free, there is always the possibility that raw milk contains bacteria or other dangerous toxins.
• This can be harmful if given to newborns, the elderly, or anybody with a weakened immune system.
• Look for pasteurized donkey milk in liquid or powder form if you wish to try it. Alternatively, microwave the raw milk for at least 15 seconds at 161°F (72°C) before consuming it to destroy any bacteria.
• Finally, if you have lactose intolerance and experience symptoms such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea after drinking milk, donkey milk will most likely cause you to have these similar symptoms owing to its lactose concentration.

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Uses of Donkey Milk

• Donkey milk is more than just a beverage. It’s also well-known for its usage as a cosmetic component. In fact, you’re more likely to discover donkey milk skin creams and soaps than donkey milk beverages.
• Donkey milk’s proteins have the capacity to attract and hold water, making it a great moisturizer.
• Some of the proteins found in donkey milk also serve as antioxidants. They help prevent cells from oxidative damage, particularly UV damage, and hence provide anti-aging effects.
• Skin creams, face masks, soaps, and shampoos are examples of cosmetic items that may use it as a main ingredient.

Reasons

Some Indian nomadic tribes, such as those from Vemulawada in the South Indian state of Telangana, visit towns to sell donkey milk. It can cost anything from 30 to 50 INR for 10 ml. That implies a liter of it costs more than 30,000 INR. When compared to cow milk, which costs about 40 to 45 INR per liter in India, it’s a luxury.

It is extremely expensive for two reasons. First, It has recognized for its medicinal properties since ancient times. Second, although a cow may produce more than 10 liters of milk per day, a donkey only produces 100 to 200 ml per day.

It has said to be the most similar to human breast milk. It has low-fat content and high lactose content. It includes anti-bacterial compounds that are 200 times more potent than those found in cow’s milk. That implies it is germ-free. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has also lauded its “special nutritional advantages,” citing a protein composition that may make it an acceptable replacement for individuals allergic to cow milk.

• It contains low amounts of saturated fat and high levels of omega three and six (nutrients found in fatty fish), which aid in cholesterol reduction.
• It is regarded as safe for babies not just in India but also in other areas of the world, particularly in Italy.
• It is consider to boost neonatal immunity. It protects them from the common cold and other disorders such as loss of appetite, acidity, and so on.

Researches

• This belief in medicinal efficacy has not restricted to a few Indian groups. Some European countries and South Koreans believe it is a helpful treatment for eczema, syphilis, scabies, itching, belching, ringworm, piles, asthma, fungal infections, sleeplessness, and other ailments.
• This is why donkey milk costs roughly  ($77) per liter in Europe. It is using to manufacture luxury soaps, liqueurs, chocolates, and cosmetics in Cyprus. The soap and lotions have said to be a great treatment for psoriasis and other skin problems.
• Donkeys, like humans, have a single stomach, and their monogastric digestive tract distinguishes them from other multi-stomached ruminants, such as cows, whose milk includes a high bacterial load.
• An Italian researcher has created a ground-breaking method for making cheese from the milk of horses and donkeys.
• Horse and donkey milk has long been deemed inappropriate for cheese manufacturing because, unlike other milk, no curd is formed when regular rennet is added.
• Preliminary research revealed that when it was treated with typical bovine-based rennet, it created a relatively weak gel compared to the gel generated by bovine milk. Mare’s milk produced no gel at all.
• He stated that the nutritional and medicinal qualities of equid milk were well established. According to reviews, it is effectively utilized as a replacement for human milk in several regions of the world. It was low in protein and fat but high in lactose, which helped with palatability and mineral absorption.

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