Ahmedabad:

They have been used as metaphors for drudgery for centuries without recognition. However, the donkey is “making its last bray” and its milk is selling for 70 times the price of milk produced by its competing cows.

Dhiren Solanki of Gujarat 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 southern states. income.

About how his journey began, Mr Solanki said he had been looking for a government job. “I found some private jobs but the salary was barely enough to cover my household expenses. Around this time, I started learning about donkey farming in South India. About 8 months ago, I met some people and started working on my The village set up the farm,” he said, adding that he started with 20 donkeys with an investment of Rs 2.2 million.

It was tough at first. There was hardly any demand for donkey milk in Gujarat and Mr Solanki got nothing in the first five months. He then started contacting companies in southern India, where there was a demand for donkey milk. He now supplies to Karnataka and Kerala and counts among his clients cosmetic companies that use donkey milk in their products.

Asked about the price, Mr Solanki said it ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 – compared to the price of milk of Rs 65 per liter. Milk is stored in the refrigerator to ensure its freshness. The milk is also sold in powder form after drying, fetching up to about a hundred thousand dollars per kilogram.

Mr Solanki’s farm now has 42 donkeys and has invested around Rs 38 lakh so far. He said he has not received any help from the state government so far but hopes the state government will also focus on this area.

Benefits of donkey milk

Donkey milk was widely used in ancient times, and there are some claims that the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra bathed in it. It is understood that the Greek physician Hippocrates, the father of medicine, used donkey milk to treat liver problems, nosebleeds, poisonings, infectious diseases and fevers.

Despite its many benefits, donkey milk’s popularity declined in modern times before scientists rediscovered its potential. However, supply is still limited, which is why the price is high.

According to a report from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, donkey milk’s composition is closer to that of human milk than cow’s milk, making it an excellent choice for babies, especially those with cow’s milk allergies.

“Another important aspect of donkey milk in the medical field is its ability to modulate intestinal flora,” the report states, detailing its benefits in ensuring better intestinal health. There are also studies pointing to its immune-boosting and anti-diabetic benefits. Donkey milk is known to have a longer shelf life because it is free of several pathogens found in other forms of milk.