Believe it or not! The donkey milk, which is more costly than any premium branded dairy milk, is still popular in the region as it is believed to be having lots of medicinal values to cure breathing ailments, cold, cough, etc. among the children.
The nomadic tribes from Vemulawada, who had arrived along with around five donkeys, were seen selling the donkey milk in the streets of Karimnagar during the early hours as this animal’s milk should be consumed in empty stomach to cure ailments among the children.
Surprisingly, the donkey milk costs Rs. 30 for 10 ml. If the person adds some other ayurvedic substance such as herbs that it would cost Rs.50 for 10 ml.
Yellaiah, who procured the donkey from Vemulwada and selling the animal’s milk, said that the donkey’s milk is very costly as the animal yields less milk unlike other milching animals.
He said that the donkey would give only around 100 ml to 200 ml of milk per day in spite of providing good fodder. “I had purchased the animal at a cost of Rs. 30,000 and now I am earning anywhere between Rs.500 to Rs.700 per day by selling its milk”, he said and added that the donkey’s milk is still popular in the rural areas when compared to the urban areas.
He said that there was demand for the donkey milk only during the monsoons and winter season when the children suffer from cold and other ailments. He also expressed concern over the declining number of donkeys in the district due to mechanisation of farm sector and the washermen using the motorcycles for transportation of clothes to dhobi ghats.
A housewife, who purchased donkey milk for her kid, said that she was purchasing the milk as it was believed since ages that it would have lots of medicinal values and cure various ailments among the children.
