Ahmedabad:
For centuries they have been used as a metaphor for drudgery without recognition. However, the donkey is “doing the final braying”, with its milk costing 70 times more than that produced by its bovine rivals.
Gujarat's Dhiren Solanki has set up a donkey farm with 42 donkeys in his village in Patan district and earns Rs 2-3 lakh per month by supplying donkey milk to customers in the southern states.
Talking about how his journey started, Mr. Solanki says he was looking for a government job. “I found some private jobs, but the wages could barely cover my family expenses. Around this time I learned about donkey farming in South India. I met some people and set up this farm in my village about eight months ago,” he said, adding that he started with twenty donkeys and an investment of Rs 22 lakh.
The beginning was tough. There is hardly any demand for donkey milk in Gujarat, and Mr Solanki earned nothing for the first five months. He then started reaching out to companies in South India, where donkey milk is in demand. He now supplies to Karnataka and Kerala, and his customers include cosmetic companies that use donkey milk in their products.
Asked about the rate, Mr Solanki says it varies between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000 – compare this to cow's milk which is sold at Rs 65 per litre. The milk is stored in freezers so that it remains fresh. The milk is dried and also sold in powder form, with prices going up to around one lakh per kg.
Mr Solanki now has 42 donkeys on his farm and has invested around Rs 38 lakh so far. He says he has not received any help from the state government so far but wants it to focus on this sector as well.
The benefits of donkey milk
Donkey's milk was widely used in ancient times, and some stories claim that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra bathed in it. The Greek physician Hippocrates, the father of medicine, is said to have prescribed donkey milk for liver problems, nosebleeds, poisoning, infectious diseases and fever.
Despite its many benefits, the prevalence of donkey milk has declined in modern times, before scientists rediscovered its potential. However, availability is still limited and this explains the high prices.
According to a report in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the composition of donkey milk is more similar to breast milk than cow's milk, making it an excellent choice for infants, especially those allergic to cow's milk.
“Another important aspect of donkey milk in the medical field is its ability to regulate intestinal microflora,” says the report, detailing its benefits in ensuring better intestinal health. There are also studies pointing to its benefits in boosting immunity and anti-diabetic properties. Donkey milk is also known to have a longer shelf life as it does not contain the various pathogens found in other forms of milk.