By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

An experiment is underway at the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Faculty to explore the possibility of producing nutritious dairy products, including cheese, as well as medicine for skin diseases, from the milk of domesticated donkeys.  

Prof. Ashoka Dangolla of the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Faculty told the Daily Mirror that donkey milk contains little fat, protein and casein and high levels of lactose and whey proteins and is rich in lysozyme.

He said that three male and three female donkeys as well as a donkey calf have been brought from Mannar to the Peradeniya University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to undergo this test.  

The professor further comments that the nutritional quality of donkey milk is almost the same as that of mother’s milk and that the cheese prepared using it is in high demand in the world and if the research is successful and production is possible, there is a possibility of earning foreign exchange by exporting it.

Also, the professor says that a donkey brought to Peradeniya eats about 5 kg of grass per day and the amount of milk they can get daily is very less compared to the amount of milk that can be obtained from a cow.   Prof. Dangolla is requestng the people those who willing to help the project to contact the department.