🐴 Jenny
Also known as: she-donkey, jennet, Equus asinus
Rare milk, close to human milk in composition. Also known in cosmetics.
Donkey milk is a rare product: according to the FAO, very little of it is consumed today, although some communities in Africa drink it as a remedy. There are about 56 million donkeys in the world, mostly in Africa and Asia; in Europe there are donkey farms in Italy, France, Spain and other countries.
Donkey milk is low in fat (about 0.4–1.2%) and protein but high in lactose (over 6%), so it is considered close to human milk. It is being studied as a possible substitute for cow’s milk for children with cow’s milk protein allergy: in clinical studies most such children tolerated it, but decisions about a child’s diet are for a doctor to make.
A jenny gives little milk, usually no more than 1–2 liters a day, and is milked several times a day while her foal is nearby. Donkey milk is also used for cosmetics, fermented milk drinks and, occasionally, cheese.
How it connects to milk
Links
- What milk it gives
- 🥛 Donkey milk
- What it gives
- 🥛 Milk
- Feeds with milk
- 🍼 Donkey foal
- Belongs to
- 🔬 Mammal
- Part of
- 🐎 Equids
Frequently asked questions
Why is donkey milk compared to human milk?
It is low in fat and casein and high in lactose, and whey proteins make up most of its protein, which makes it similar to breast milk.
Can a child with milk allergy drink donkey milk?
It is being studied as an option for cow’s milk protein allergy, but it should only be used on a doctor’s advice.
How much milk does a donkey give?
Not much — usually no more than 1–2 liters a day over several milkings.
Similar
🐎 Mare · 🐕 Dog · 🦔 Hedgehog · 🦘 Kangaroo · 🦌 Moose cow · 🐈 Cat
Sources
- FAO — Dairy animals: Other animals (yak, horse, donkey)
- Vincenzetti et al. Vitamins in Human and Donkey Milk: Functional and Nutritional Role. Nutrients, 2021
- Faccia et al. Milk Products from Minor Dairy Species: A Review. Animals, 2020