The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science is conducting an experiment to explore the potential of producing nutritious dairy products, including cheese, and medicinal treatments for skin diseases from domesticated donkey milk.
Prof. Ashoka Dangolla from the Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science Faculty explained to the Daily Mirror that donkey milk is low in fat, protein, and casein but high in lactose and whey proteins. It is also rich in lysozyme.
For this research, three male and three female donkeys, along with a donkey calf, have been brought from Mannar to the University of Peradeniya’s Veterinary Medicine Faculty.
Historically, donkey milk has been noted for its benefits, such as Cleopatra using it to enhance her beauty. Prof. Dangolla mentioned plans to collaborate with the medical faculty to investigate the potential for creating ointments from donkey milk.
The professor highlighted that donkey milk’s nutritional quality is similar to human breast milk and that donkey milk cheese is highly sought after worldwide. If the research is successful and production feasible, exporting these products could generate foreign exchange.
Additionally, Prof. Dangolla noted that a donkey at Peradeniya consumes about 5 kg of grass daily but produces significantly less milk than a cow.
Prof. Dangolla is inviting individuals interested in supporting the project to contact the department.
