Donkey milk in institutions: the 2013 FAO technical book

The 2013 FAO book lists donkey milk in Table 3.3 with an average of 90.8 g water, 1.6 g protein, 0.7 g fat and 6.4 g lactose per 100 g. Donkeys are listed there among the “minor dairy species”.

The source in brief

• Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); technical editors Ellen Muehlhoff, Anthony Bennett, Deirdre McMahon; Chapter 3: Ramani Wijesinha-Bettoni, Barbara Burlingame
• Work: Milk and dairy products in human nutrition (ISBN 978-92-5-107863-1)
• Location: Chapter 3 “Milk and dairy product composition”: p. 43 (water content), Table 3.3 on p. 48, section “Mare and donkey milks” p. 54–55, fatty acids p. 64
• Time and place: 2013 · International (FAO, Rome)
• Type of source: UN technical book (FAO)

In the original wording

Water is the main component in all milks, ranging from an average of 68 percent in reindeer milk to 91 percent in donkey milk.

Water is the main component in all types of milk; the average ranges from 68 percent in reindeer milk to 91 percent in donkey milk.

English, FAO 2013, Ch. 3, p. 43

As 40–50 percent of equine milk protein consists of whey protein, equine milk is not very suitable for cheese production.

Since 40 to 50 percent of the protein in equine milk consists of whey protein, equine milk is only slightly suitable for cheese production.

English, FAO 2013, Ch. 3, p. 55

German translation: own, free translation by the DON DONKEY'S editorial team.

Background

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), based in Rome, published the compilation “Milk and dairy products in human nutrition” in 2013. In nine chapters, it brings together data on milk production, composition and nutritional issues; the chapters were written by FAO experts and external authors.

Chapter 3 by Ramani Wijesinha-Bettoni and Barbara Burlingame (FAO Nutrition Division) compares the milk of the “major dairy species” (cow, buffalo, goat, sheep) with that of the “minor dairy species”. The latter include yak, mithun, musk ox, horse, donkey, dromedary, camel, llama, alpaca, reindeer and elk.

What the source reports

Table 3.3 (p. 48) lists the following average values per 100 g for donkey milk: 90.8 g water (range 89.2–91.5), 1.6 g total protein (1.4–1.8), 0.7 g fat (0.3–1.8), 6.4 g lactose (5.9–6.9) and 0.4 g ash (0.3–0.4). The calculated energy value is 156 kJ (37 kcal), while the value reported in studies is 210 kJ (50 kcal).

In the section “Mare and donkey milks” (p. 54–55), it is stated that mare and donkey milk do not differ significantly in protein, fat, lactose, ash and water. Both contained significantly less fat and protein than cow milk; their ash content of 0.3–0.5 g/100 g was below that of cow milk (0.7 g/100 g).

Regarding milk fat, the chapter reports: more than 20 g of polyunsaturated fatty acids per 100 g of total fatty acids in mare and donkey milk, compared to about 6 g in cow milk; saturated fatty acids average 55 g/100 g in donkey milk. For donkey milk, 4 g of alpha-linolenic acid and 6 g of linoleic acid per 100 g of total fatty acids are stated. The authors attribute this to the fact that equines are not ruminants.

Figures and facts

• 90.8 g – water per 100 g of donkey milk (Tab. 3.3)
• 1.6 g – total protein per 100 g (range 1.4–1.8)
• 0.7 g – fat per 100 g (range 0.3–1.8)
• 6.4 g – lactose per 100 g (range 5.9–6.9)
• 156 kJ – calculated energy value per 100 g (37 kcal)
• 100–200 mg – lysozyme per 100 g of donkey milk (cited literature value)

Critical assessment

• Type of source: Technical publication by a UN specialized agency with a literature review. The figures are cited average values from studies, not the FAO's own measurements; individual herds, breeds and lactation stages may differ significantly.
• Limited data base: In 2013, relatively few studies on donkey milk were available. Ranges such as 0.3–1.8 g of fat per 100 g show how much individual values can fluctuate.
• Nutrition-related passages: The chapter also contains literature references on the suitability of equine milk for certain groups of people and notes that some questions remain open. These passages are not included here; they do not form a basis for health-related claims about a food.
• Value for the archive: The table is a frequently cited, freely available reference for the basic composition of donkey milk compared to other types of milk.

Our assessment

We use the FAO book as a reference for average composition values. We do not derive any nutritional or health claims from it; individual studies and the legal requirements for food are decisive.

Proof: FAO full-text PDF (Chapter 3, p. 41 ff.) · Summarized by the DON DONKEY'S editorial team, as of November 2026.

End of source summary. The source does not refer to DON DONKEY'S® or our products. Our donkey milk is a food.