Investigation on Nutritional and Microbiological Properties of Abyssinian Donkey Milk from Adea Woreda
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A study was carried out on donkey milk in Adea woreda with particular emphasis on
characterization of the nutritional and microbiological properties of Abyssinian donkey milk
from Adea woreda. The results were compared with those already published in literature for a
potential future use as replacement of human breast milk. To this end, the study utilized primary
data that were collected through direct collection of milk from 24 Jennies from three selected
kebeles of Ada’a woreda; and secondary data were obtained from published literature for
comparative purposes. Attempts were primarily made to analyze the physicochemical
composition such as fat, total protein, lactose, minerals, vitamins C, acidity or pH, density, total
solid and freezing points; and microbiological characteristics. Results indicated that the
Abyssinian donkey milk have close similarity with other donkeys milk previously investigated
elsewhere for most of the components. More importantly, the present findings confirmed
Abyssinian donkey milk to have a very close similarity with human breast milk for protein,
lactose, vitamin C, density, and acidity contents. However, it was found to have a significantly
higher (p<0.01) concentration in all minerals investigated in this study than human breast milk.
With regards to the microbiological properties, it was found out that the donkey milk didn’t
ferment, and had lower microbial load as is common in cow’s milk. The present findings can
generally provide strong evidence that the Abyssinian donkey milk in Adea woreda can provide
an alternative supplement for human breast milk in many aspects of its composition.
Key words: Abyssinian donkey, milk, nutritional content, microbiological property
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Keywords
Abyssinian donkey, milk, nutritional content, microbiological property