COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES OF DONKEY’S MILK

Abstract

An increasing number of cases of cow's milk allergy in infants evoked interest in equine milk (milk from female horses and donkeys) owing to its composition similar to that of human milk. Clinical studies proved a very good tolerance of this kind of milk by the body of infants and young children. Milk is considered useful in preventing atherosclerosis and in controlling immune responses in elderly people. Although similar to mare's milk, donkey's milk has one distinctive characteristic: it contains a particularly high content of lysozyme. For that reason, it is characterized by antibacterial properties even after pasteurization and, therefore, among other things, it is particularly useable in the production of probiotic beverages.