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Does donkey milk differ depending on the donkey breed? A team from Tunisia and Italy followed 28 donkeys from two Tunisian populations – Masri and North African – through an entire lactation. The North African donkeys produced more milk with more protein, while the milk of the Masri donkeys contained more fat.
Milk analysis of donkeys from a single farm – no statement about an effect in humans. Donkey milk is a food.
Study at a glance
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Original title | Preserving Mediterranean Donkeys: A Study on Milk Production and Nutritional Benefits |
| Authors | Aroua M., Fatica A., Ben Said S., Mahouachi M., Salimei E. |
| Journal | Animals, 14(24): 3713 |
| Year | 2024 |
| Country | Tunisia |
| Study type | Milk analysis over one lactation, breed comparison |
| Sample | 28 donkeys (14 Masri, 14 North African), one milk donkey farm in El Kef |
| DOI | 10.3390/ani14243713 |
What question did the researchers ask?
In Tunisia, there are mainly three donkey ecotypes. The North African donkey is the most common, while the Masri donkey is smaller and light-colored. Most data on donkey milk so far comes from European breeds. The researchers wanted to know: How does lactation – that is, the phase in which a donkey gives milk – proceed in these two populations, and how does their milk differ?
How was it investigated
- Animals: 28 donkeys that had already given birth several times, with an average age of 8 years and a weight of 192 kg. Kept on rangeland pasture with concentrate feed as a supplement.
- Milking: By hand around 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Once a week, the milk yield of each donkey was recorded and a sample was taken – from the second week until the end of lactation after 205 ± 12.5 days.
- Laboratory: Basic composition using standard methods, whey proteins by liquid chromatography (HPLC), amino acids by acid hydrolysis, fatty acids by gas chromatography.
- Curve model: The researchers described the course of the milk yield using the Wood model, a common formula for lactation curves.
The results
Both populations showed the typical course: The milk yield increased after calving, reached its peak after just under two months, and then slowly decreased. According to the model, the peak for the North African donkeys was on day 57 at 1.212 kg per day, and for the Masri donkeys on day 59 at 0.991 kg per day. Over the entire lactation, the model yielded 188.66 kg compared to 163.42 kg.
| Measurement (average over the lactation) | North African | Masri |
|---|---|---|
| Milked milk, kg/day * | 0.97 ± 0.20 | 0.89 ± 0.15 |
| Total protein, g/100 g * | 1.45 ± 0.03 | 1.32 ± 0.05 |
| Fat, g/100 g * | 0.90 ± 0.02 | 1.16 ± 0.05 |
| Lactose, g/100 g | 6.54 ± 0.13 | 6.52 ± 0.09 |
| β-Lactoglobulin, mg/mL * | 4.75 ± 0.06 | 3.60 ± 0.03 |
| α-Lactalbumin, mg/mL * | 1.62 ± 0.06 | 1.78 ± 0.08 |
| Lysozyme, mg/mL * | 1.50 ± 0.03 | 1.20 ± 0.01 |
| Palmitic acid, g/100 g fatty acids * | 20.1 | 16.5 |
| Oleic acid, g/100 g fatty acids * | 20.2 | 21.4 |
* = statistically significant according to the study. Lactose, ash (total minerals), casein, and pH did not differ. Of the 17 measured amino acids – the building blocks of proteins – only glutamate, aspartate, and the total differed. The most common fatty acids in both milks were oleic acid and palmitic acid. The proportion of unsaturated fatty acids was slightly higher in the Masri donkeys (45.0 compared to 44.1 g/100 g fatty acids).
On the same farm, the North African donkeys produced more milk with slightly more protein, while the Masri donkeys produced milk with more fat and a slightly different fatty acid pattern.
Critical assessment
- Small sample: 14 animals per group, one farm, one season. It cannot be reliably separated whether the differences are due to the breed or individual animals.
- Dispersion: According to the methods section, the standard deviations come from three laboratory repetitions. They therefore describe the measurement accuracy, not the differences between the animals. The significance indications should therefore be read with caution.
- Inconsistencies: In the abstract, the total amounts are given as “± 7.19” and “± 7.21 kg” – these are exactly the persistence figures from Table 1. The study gives the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids for Masri milk as 0.69; calculated from 45.0 and 55.0, it is approximately 0.82.
- Whey proteins: The three individually measured whey proteins add up to more than the measured total whey protein. The methods differ, and an explanation is missing.
- Model values: The peak and total yield come from the Wood model, not from direct measurement.
Funding, conflicts of interest, and level of evidence
According to the paper, there was no external funding. The authors state that there are no conflicts of interest. They work at the University of Jendouba (Tunisia) and the University of Molise (Italy).
Level of evidence: Basic research (milk analysis) – describes quantity and composition, no statement about effects.
What does this mean for donkey milk as a food?
The study shows that donkey milk is not one-size-fits-all: Even on the same farm, two populations differed in fat, protein, and fatty acid patterns. In addition, the stage of lactation, feed, and housing come into play. The authors see the milk as a possible building block for “functional foods” and for infant nutrition. This was not investigated. Donkey milk is not a substitute for breast milk or infant formula.
Our research question: How much of the differences are due to the breed and how much to feed and the stage of lactation – and how do we make the origin of our milk transparent?
Frequently asked questions
Which donkey breeds were studied?
Two Tunisian populations: the North African donkey, which is the most common there, and the smaller, light-colored Masri donkey.
How much milk did a donkey produce?
On average, 0.97 kg (North African) and 0.89 kg (Masri) were milked per day. The model yielded 188.66 kg and 163.42 kg for the entire lactation.
Can the results be generalized to other donkey milk?
Only to a limited extent. The study includes two populations on a single farm in Tunisia. Other breeds, feed, and housing can lead to different values.
You can find all measurement values, interactive graphics, and the full critical assessment on our research page: Study 70: Two donkey breeds from Tunisia. Further studies in the research archive.
Aroua M., Fatica A., Ben Said S., Mahouachi M., Salimei E. (2024). Preserving Mediterranean Donkeys: A Study on Milk Production and Nutritional Benefits. Animals, 14(24), 3713. DOI: 10.3390/ani14243713
Summarized and reviewed by the DON DONKEY'S editorial team based on the original publication · As of: October 2026. This summary does not replace the original work.
End of the study summary. The study was conducted independently of DON DONKEY'S® and does not refer to our products. Our donkey milk is a food.
