Several families hailing from Andhra Pradesh have been selling donkeys’ milk in Haveri
Haveri : Four families from Andhra Pradesh have descended on Haveri, with more than 20 donkeys to sell donkey milk in the neighbourhoods. Camped near Regional Transport Office (RTO), they begin their rounds around 7am, moving from one locality to another and selling small quantities of fresh milk before returning by noon. Besides Haveri district, they also sell the milk in other districts like Davanagere, Chitradurga, Shivamogga, Koppal, Ballari, and Tumakuru.
Resident Ramanna Somanagoudra said donkeys and donkey milk were once common, but have now become rare. He said older generations considered donkey milk useful to cure children’s fever, headache and indigestion. “Many still believe it has medicinal value,” he said. Dermatologist Sanjay Dange said donkey milk contains proteins, antioxidants and taurine, and is used in some soaps and creams for skin care. He said it may help moisturise skin and support nutrition, but warned that infants should not be given donkey milk without medical advice. “It must never be consumed raw and should be boiled and cooled before drinking,” he added.
Health experts say people should not depend on donkey milk as a cure for disease and must seek proper medical treatment when symptoms persist. Doctors, however, advise caution.
Prices vary according to quantity: a spoonful costs Rs 100, a small cup Rs 200, and a larger cup Rs 300. Their business is unpredictable, with daily earnings ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 2,000, according to the sellers. Because of past controversies, including the donkey milk case busted by Vijayanagara district police, where authorities acted against the alleged illegal selling of donkeys at a higher price on a milk buy-back condition, the trade has also drawn attention.
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Piryaji, an elder among the group, said donkey milk is safe for both children and adults, and claimed it helps prevent phlegm, cough, cold and asthma. “The families have previously sold donkey milk in Bengaluru, Chennai, Kakinada, Vizag, Sikandrabad and Hyderabad, where the demand is higher,” he claimed. Suresh , another seller, said each donkey yields about half a litre of milk a day, and that unsold milk is consumed by the sellers, mainly their children.
The sellers market the milk as a traditional remedy for cough, cold, wheezing, asthma, fever and indigestion and for improving skin glow. They claim consuming it early in the morning on an empty stomach helps prevent illnesses. However, there are no scientific evidence to validate these claims. Download the TOI App.